User-Portable Container Configured to Inventory Items using a Reader

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure is directed at systems, methods, and apparatus for precisely inventorying items placed within a user-portable container. The system may comprise one or more interrogators configured to repeatedly send interrogation signals to detect tagged items placed within the portable container by a user. The system may also comprise one or more readers configured to detect response signals produced by the tagged items in response to the repeated interrogation signals. The system may also comprise a communication interface configured to provide information regarding the detected response signals to an adjunct processor configured to analyze the signals and determine whether they originate from items within the user-portable container, as well as to maintain an inventory of items within the portable container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 15/076,257, filed Mar. 21, 2016, titled“USER-PORTABLE CONTAINER CONFIGURED TO INVENTORY ITEMS USING A READER”,which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of ProvisionalApplication No. 62/254,488, filed Nov. 12, 2015, entitled “SYSTEMS ANDMETHODS OF MOBILE ELECTRONIC OBJECTS WITH DEFINED ZONES OF OPERATION”,the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein intheir entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is directed at a portable user container forprecisely inventorying contents placed therein by a user.

BACKGROUND

Inventory management, point-of-sale, and sale conversion are keychallenges for individuals and retailers. Of particular interest areeliminating lines for payment and checkout processes and increasing theresolution of data associated with an individual consumer's shoppingexperience. Solving these problems will improve sales and consumershopping experiences and create a novel means to control the flow ofinformation in a retail environment.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect, the present disclosure is directed at ashielded user-portable container configured to inventory items.

In one set of embodiments, the present disclosure is directed at auser-portable container that precisely inventories items within it, thecontainer comprising: a housing comprising electromagnetic shieldingmaterial that defines at least part of a three-dimensional interiorvolume for holding items placed into the container by a user; aninterrogator positioned in the interior volume and configured torepeatedly send interrogation signals to detect identifying tagsattached to one or more items within the interior volume, wherein theshielding material is configured to at least partially inhibit theinterrogation signals from propagating outside the interior volume andthereby inhibit the detection of tags outside of the container; a readerpositioned in the interior volume and configured to detect identifyingresponse signals produced by one or more identifying tags; and acommunication interface configured to send information regarding thedetected response signals so that the response signals may be analyzedto determine whether the one or more identifying tags are within theinterior volume or outside the interior volume.

In some embodiments, wherein the interrogator and the reader are part ofa single device.

In some embodiments, the communication interface is configured toprovide the information regarding the response signals to an adjunctprocessor configured to maintain an inventory of items disposed withinthe interior volume based on the response signals.

In some embodiments, the processor is configured to add an item to theinventory of items only when an identifying response signal associatedwith the added item is received at least a plurality of times inresponse to a pre-determined number of interrogation signals.

In some embodiments, the processor is configured to remove an item fromthe inventory of items when the reader does not detect a response signalfrom a tag associated with the removed item for a pre-determined numberof consecutive interrogation signals.

In some embodiments, the processor is located outside of theuser-portable container.

In some embodiments, the processor is part of the user-portablecontainer.

In some embodiments, a signal strength of the interrogation signals isselected so as to be sufficient to reach substantially all of theinterior volume, but not substantially stronger.

In some embodiments, the communication interface comprises a wirelesscommunication interface.

In some embodiments, the user-portable container is configured to beassociated with a user for a temporary period of time.

In some embodiments, the electromagnetic shielding material isconfigured to at least partially inhibit the response signals producedby tags from propagating outside the interior volume.

In some embodiments, the interrogator is configured to send theinterrogation signals at a rate of at least five times per second.

In some embodiments, the user-portable container comprises a liner bagdisposed within the interior volume, the liner bag comprising a linertag that produces liner tag response signals; the reader is configuredto detect the liner tag response signals; and the adjunct processor isconfigured to: determine, via the reader, a presence or absence of theliner tag response signals, and based on the presence or absence of theliner tag response signals, initiate an automatic checkout event.

In another set of embodiments, the present disclosure is directed at asystem that precisely inventories items within a user-portablecontainer, the system comprising: an interrogator positioned outside theuser-portable container and configured to repeatedly send interrogationsignals to detect identifying tags attached to one or more items; andthe user-portable container comprising: a housing comprisingelectromagnetic shielding material that defines at least part of athree-dimensional interior volume for holding items placed into thecontainer by a user, a reader positioned in the interior volume andconfigured to detect identifying response signals produced by one ormore identifying tags in response to the repeated interrogation signals,wherein the electromagnetic shielding material is configured to at leastpartially inhibit the response signals from propagating outside theinterior volume, and a communication interface configured to sendinformation regarding the detected response signals so that the responsesignals may be analyzed to determine whether the one or more identifyingtags are within the interior volume or outside the interior volume.

In some embodiments, the communication interface is configured toprovide the information regarding the response signals to an adjunctprocessor configured to maintain an inventory of items disposed withinthe interior volume based on the response signals.

In some embodiments, the processor is configured to add an item to theinventory of items only when an identifying response signal associatedwith the item is received at least a plurality times in response to apre-determined number of interrogation signals.

In some embodiments, the processor is configured to remove an item fromthe inventory of items when the reader does not detect a response signalfrom a tag associated with the removed item for a pre-determined numberof consecutive interrogation signals.

In some embodiments, the processor is located outside of theuser-portable container.

In some embodiments, the processor is part of the user-portablecontainer.

In some embodiments, the interrogator is part of a portal deviceinstalled at a fixed location.

In some embodiments, the interrogator is part of a mobile device.

In some embodiments, the user-portable container is configured to beassociated with a user for a temporary period of time.

In some embodiments, the interrogation signals are within a firstwavelength range; the response signals are within a second wavelengthrange; and the electromagnetic shielding material is configured toabsorb or reflect electromagnetic signals within the second wavelengthrange more effectively than electromagnetic signals within the firstwavelength range.

In some embodiments, the shielding material of the user-portablecontainer defines an opening into the interior volume, and wherein theinterrogator is configured to send the repeated interrogation signalsthrough the opening.

In yet another set of embodiments, the present disclosure is directed ata system that precisely inventories items within a user-portablecontainer, the system comprising: the user-portable containercomprising: a housing comprising electromagnetic shielding material thatdefines at least part of a three-dimensional interior volume for holdingitems placed into the container by a user, and an interrogatorpositioned in the interior volume and configured to repeatedly sendinterrogation signals to detect identifying tags attached to one or moreitems, wherein the shielding material is configured to at leastpartially inhibit the interrogation signals from propagating outside theinterior volume and thereby inhibit the detection of tags outside of thecontainer; a reader positioned outside the interior volume andconfigured to detect identifying response signals produced by one ormore identifying tags in response to the repeated interrogation signals;and a communication interface configured to send information regardingthe detected response signals so that the response signals may beanalyzed to determine whether the one or more identifying tags arewithin the interior volume or outside the interior volume.

In some embodiments, the communication interface is configured to sendthe information regarding the detected response signals to an adjunctprocessor configured to maintain an inventory of items disposed withinthe interior volume based on the response signals.

In some embodiments, the processor is configured to add an item to theinventory of items only when an identifying response signal associatedwith the item is received at least a plurality of times in response to apre-determined number of interrogation signals.

In some embodiments, the processor is configured to remove an item fromthe inventory of items when the reader does not detect a response signalfrom a tag associated with the removed item for a pre-determined numberof consecutive interrogation signals.

In some embodiments, the user-portable container is configured to beassociated with a user for a temporary period of time.

In some embodiments, the interrogation signals are within a firstwavelength range; the response signals are within a second wavelengthrange; and the electromagnetic shielding material is configured toabsorb or reflect electromagnetic signals within the first wavelengthrange more effectively than electromagnetic signals within the secondwavelength range.

In some embodiments, the shielding material of the user-portablecontainer defines an opening into the interior volume, and wherein thereader is configured to detect response signals that exit the interiorvolume through the opening.

According to a second aspect, the present disclosure is directed at auser-portable container configured to inventory items using multiplereaders.

In a first set of embodiments, the present disclosure is directed at auser-portable container that precisely inventories items within it, thecontainer comprising: a housing that defines at least part of athree-dimensional interior volume for holding items placed into thecontainer by a user; an interrogator positioned in the interior volumeand configured to repeatedly send interrogation signals to detectidentifying tags attached to one or more items within the interiorvolume; a plurality of readers disposed at multiple positions within thethree-dimensional volume, the readers configured to detect identifyingresponse signals produced by one or more identifying tags in response tothe repeated interrogation signals; and a communication interfaceconfigured to send information regarding the detected response signalsso that the response signals may be analyzed to determine whether theone or more identifying tags are within the interior volume or outsidethe interior volume.

In some embodiments, the communication interface is configured toprovide the information regarding the response signals to an adjunctprocessor configured to, for a particular tag of the one or more tags:determine how many readers detect a response signal associated with theparticular tag; if the number of readers is less than a minimum numberof readers, determine that the particular tag is likely not within theinterior volume; if the number of readers is greater than or equal tothe minimum number of readers, determine that the particular tag islikely within the interior volume; maintain an inventory of itemsdisposed within the interior volume; and add an item associated with theparticular tag to the inventory of items only when the processordetermines that the particular tag is likely within the interior volumeat least a plurality of times in response to a pre-determined number ofinterrogation signals.

In some embodiments, the processor is configured to remove an item fromthe inventory of items when the processor determines that a tagassociated with the removed item is likely not within the interiorvolume for a pre-determined number of consecutive interrogation signals.

In some embodiments, the processor is located outside of theuser-portable container.

In some embodiments, the processor is located at the user-portablecontainer.

In some embodiments, the plurality of readers each comprise at least onedirectional antenna that is configured to be more sensitive toelectromagnetic signals originating from within the interior volume thanto electromagnetic signals originating from outside the interior volume.

In some embodiments, the plurality of readers are configured to detectidentifying response signals when the response signals have a signalstrength above a minimum signal strength threshold.

In some embodiments, the interior volume is divided into a plurality ofspatial sub-zones; and the processor is configured to, for theparticular tag: determine a subset of readers that detect the responsesignal associated with the particular tag, and assign the particular tagto a sub-zone of the plurality of sub-zones based on the subset ofreaders.

In some embodiments, the interior volume is divided into a plurality ofspatial sub-zones; and the processor is configured to, for theparticular tag: assign the particular tag to a sub-zone of the pluralityof sub-zones based on received signal strength indices for each readerthat detects the response signal associated with the particular tag.

In a second set of embodiments, the present disclosure is directed at asystem that precisely inventories items within a user-portablecontainer, the system comprising: an interrogator positioned outside theuser-portable container and configured to repeatedly send interrogationsignals to detect identifying tags attached to one or more items; theuser-portable container comprising: a housing that defines at least partof a user-portable three-dimensional interior volume for holding itemsplaced into the container by a user, and a plurality of readers disposedat multiple positions within the three-dimensional volume, the readersconfigured to detect identifying response signals produced by one ormore identifying tags in response to the repeated interrogation signals;and a communication interface configured to send information regardingthe detected response signals so that the response signals may beanalyzed to determine whether the one or more identifying tags arewithin the interior volume or outside the interior volume.

In some embodiments, the communication interface is configured toprovide the information regarding the response signals to an adjunctprocessor configured to, for a particular tag of the one or more tags:determine how many readers detect a response signal associated with theparticular tag; if the number of readers is less than a minimum numberof readers, determine that the particular tag is likely not within theinterior volume; if the number of readers is greater than or equal tothe minimum number of readers, determine that the particular tag islikely within the interior volume; maintain an inventory of itemsdisposed within the interior volume; and add an item associated with theparticular tag to the inventory of items when the processor determinesthat the particular tag is within the interior volume at least aplurality of times in response to a pre-determined number ofinterrogation signals.

In some embodiments, the processor is configured to remove an item fromthe inventory of items when the processor determines that a tagassociated with the removed item is likely not within the interiorvolume for a pre-determined number of consecutive interrogation signals.

In some embodiments, the processor is located at the user-portablecontainer.

In some embodiments, the processor is located outside of theuser-portable container.

In some embodiments, the plurality of readers each comprise at least onedirectional antenna that is configured to be more sensitive toelectromagnetic signals originating from within the interior volume thanto electromagnetic signals originating from outside the interior volume.

In some embodiments, the plurality of readers are configured to detectidentifying response signals when the response signals have a signalstrength above a minimum signal strength threshold.

In some embodiments, the interior volume is divided into a plurality ofspatial sub-zones; and the processor is configured to, for theparticular tag: determine a subset of readers that detect the responsesignal associated with the particular tag, assign the particular tag toa sub-zone of the plurality of sub-zones based on the subset of readers.

In some embodiments, the interior volume is divided into a plurality ofspatial sub-zones; and the processor is configured to, for theparticular tag: assign the particular tag to a sub-zone of the pluralityof sub-zones based on received signal strength indices for each readerthat detects the response signal associated with the particular tag.

In a third aspect, the present disclosure is directed at a user-portablecontainer configured to inventory items using a reader.

In one set of embodiments, the present disclosure is directed at auser-portable container that precisely inventories items within it, thecontainer comprising: a housing that defines at least part of athree-dimensional interior volume for holding items placed into thecontainer by a user; an interrogator disposed within the interior volumeand configured to repeatedly send interrogation signals to detectidentifying tags attached to one or more items within the interiorvolume; a reader disposed within the interior volume, the readerconfigured to detect identifying response signals produced by one ormore identifying tags in response to the repeated interrogation signals;and an adjunct processor configured to confirm whether the one or moretags are within the interior volume or outside the interior volume, theprocessor configured to: maintain an inventory of items disposed withinthe interior volume, and add an item to the inventory of items only whenan identifying response signal associated with the item is received atleast a plurality of times in response to a pre-determined number ofinterrogation signals.

In some embodiments, the processor is located outside the user-portablecontainer.

In some embodiments, at least two of the interrogator, the reader, andthe processor are part of a single device.

In some embodiments, the processor is configured to remove an item fromthe inventory of items when the reader does not detect a response signalfrom a tag associated with the removed item for a pre-determined numberof consecutive interrogation signals.

In some embodiments, at least one of the reader and the interrogator arecoupled to at least one antenna attached to the housing.

In some embodiments, the at least one antenna covers at least 25% of thehousing.

In some embodiments, the at least one antenna covers at least 50% of thehousing.

In some embodiments, the at least one antenna covers at least 75% of thehousing.

In some embodiments, the reader is coupled to at least one antennaconfigured to be more sensitive to response signals originating fromwithin the interior volume than to response signals originating fromoutside the interior volume.

In some embodiments, the interrogator is coupled to at least one antennaconfigured to direct the interrogation signals towards the interior ofthe interior volume.

In some embodiments, the reader is configured to detect identifyingresponse signals when the response signals have a signal strength abovea minimum signal strength threshold.

In another set of embodiments, the present disclosure is directed at asystem that precisely inventories items within a user-portablecontainer, the system comprising: an interrogator located outside theuser-portable container configured to repeatedly send interrogationsignals to detect identifying tags attached to one or more items; theuser-portable container comprising: a housing that defines at least partof a three-dimensional interior volume for holding items placed into thecontainer by a user, and a reader disposed within the interior volume,the reader configured to detect identifying response signals produced byone or more identifying tags in response to the repeated interrogationsignals; and an adjunct processor configured to confirm whether the oneor more tags are within the interior volume or outside the interiorvolume, the processor configured to: maintain an inventory of itemsdisposed within the interior volume, and add an item to the inventory ofitems only when an identifying response signal associated with the itemis received at least a plurality of times in response to apre-determined number of interrogation signals.

In some embodiments, the interrogator is part of a portal device havinga fixed location.

In some embodiments, the interrogator is part of a mobile device.

In some embodiments, the processor is located outside the user-portablecontainer.

In some embodiments, the processor is located at the user-portablecontainer.

In some embodiments, the processor is configured to be in communicationwith the reader via a wireless connection.

In some embodiments, the reader is coupled to at least one antennaattached to the housing.

In some embodiments, the at least one antenna covers at least 25% of thehousing.

In some embodiments, the at least one antenna covers at least 50% of thehousing.

In some embodiments, the at least one antenna covers at least 75% of thehousing.

In some embodiments, the reader is coupled to at least one antennaconfigured to be more sensitive to response signals originating fromwithin the interior volume than to response signals originating fromoutside the interior volume.

In yet another set of embodiments, the present disclosure is directed ata method for precisely inventorying items placed within a user-portablethree-dimensional interior volume defined by a user-portable container,the method comprising: repeatedly sending, from an interrogator,interrogation signals for detecting identifying tags attached to one ormore items within the interior volume; detecting, at a reader, responsesignals produced by one or more identifying tags in response to therepeated interrogation signals; and confirming whether the one or moreidentifying tags are within the interior volume or outside the interiorvolume by: maintaining an inventory of items disposed within theinterior volume; and adding an item to the inventory of items only whenan identifying response signal associated with the item is received atleast a plurality of times in response to a pre-determined number ofinterrogation signals.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises removing an item fromthe inventory of items when the reader does not detect a response signalfrom a tag associated with the removed item for a pre-determined numberof consecutive interrogation signals.

In some embodiments, the item is added to the inventory of items onlywhen the identifying response signal associated with the item isreceived at least five times in response to at least ten interrogationsignals.

According to a fourth aspect, the present disclosure is directed atmethods and systems for generating a history of the changing contents ofa user-portable container over space and time.

In one set of embodiments, the present disclosure is directed at amethod for generating a history of the changing contents of auser-portable container over space and time, the user-portable containerdefining a user-portable three-dimensional interior volume, the methodcomprising: using an indoor positioning system to monitor over time aposition of the user-portable container within an indoor space;monitoring contents of the user-portable container over time by:repeatedly sending interrogation signals from at least one interrogatorto interrogate the contents of the user-portable container, and using areader disposed within the user-portable container to detect responsesignals produced by one or more tags attached to one or more itemsplaced within the interior volume in response to the repeatedinterrogation signals; and generating the history of the changingcontents of the user-portable container over space and time based on themonitored position and the monitored contents.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises associating theuser-portable container with a user identity; and associating thehistory with the user identity.

In some embodiments, the positioning system comprises a location tagaffixed to the user-portable container and a plurality of transponderslocated at different positions within the indoor space; and monitoringthe position of the user-portable container comprises: receiving, at oneor more of the transponders, a location signal produced by the locationtag.

In some embodiments, monitoring the position of the user-portablecontainer further comprises repeatedly transmitting, from the one ormore transponders, location polling signals; and the location tag is apassive tag configured to produce the location signal by modulating atleast one of the location polling signals.

In some embodiments, the at least one interrogator is located at theuser-portable container.

In some embodiments, the at least one interrogator is located outsidethe user-portable container.

In some embodiments, the user-portable container compriseselectromagnetic shielding material configured to at least partiallyinhibit the interrogation signals from propagating outside the interiorvolume.

In some embodiments, the user-portable container compriseselectromagnetic shielding material configured to at least partiallyinhibit the response signals from propagating outside the interiorvolume.

In some embodiments, the history of the changing contents is generatedby at least one of a processor within the user-portable container, aprocessor of a mobile device, and a remote server.

In some embodiments, associating the user-portable container with theuser comprises establishing a wireless communication session with amobile device associated with the user.

In some embodiments, associating the user-portable container with theuser comprises reading, by the user-portable container, media associatedwith the user.

In some embodiments, associating the user-portable container with theuser comprises receiving, via a user interface, login information fromthe user.

In another set of embodiments, the present disclosure is directed at asystem for generating a history of the changing contents of auser-portable container over space and time, the system comprising: aninterrogator configured to repeatedly send interrogation signals; theuser-portable container, the container defining a user-portablethree-dimensional interior volume, the container comprising: a readerconfigured to detect response signals produced by one or more tagsattached to one or more items placed within the interior volume inresponse to the repeated interrogation signals, and a transponderconfigured to wirelessly transmit information regarding the detectedresponse signals; an indoor positioning system configured to monitorover time a position of the user-portable container within an indoorspace; and at least one processing station configured to: receive theinformation regarding the detected response signals transmitted by thetransponder, monitor contents of the user-portable container over timebased on the received information, and generate the history of thechanging contents of the user-portable container over space and timebased on the monitored position and the monitored contents.

In some embodiments, the positioning system comprises: a location tagaffixed to the user-portable container; and a plurality of transponderslocated at different positions within the indoor space configured toreceive a location signal produced by the location tag.

In some embodiments, the plurality of transponders are furtherconfigured to repeatedly transmit location polling signals; and thelocation tag is a passive tag configured to produce the location signalby modulating at least one of the location polling signals.

In some embodiments, the at least one interrogator is located at theuser-portable container.

In some embodiments, the at least one interrogator is located outsidethe user-portable container.

In some embodiments, the user-portable container comprises shieldingmaterial configured to at least partially inhibit the interrogationsignals from propagating outside the interior volume.

In some embodiments, the user-portable container comprises shieldingmaterial configured to at least partially inhibit the response signalsfrom propagating outside the interior volume.

In some embodiments, the server is configured to associate theuser-portable container with a user identity, and to associate thegenerated history with the user identity.

According to a fifth aspect, the present disclosure is directed atportals configured to inventory items within a user-portable containerassociated with a user.

In one set of embodiments, the present disclosure is directed at asystem configured to inventory items within a user-portable containeruniquely associated with a specific user, the system comprising: theuser-portable container, the container defining a portablethree-dimensional interior volume, the container comprising aprogrammable circuit configured to store a user identity uniquelyassociated with the specific user; an interrogator configured torepeatedly send interrogation signals; a reader configured to detectidentifying response signals produced by tags attached to items withinthe interior volume in response to the repeated interrogation signals;and at least one processor configured to: inventory items disposedwithin the interior volume based on the response signals, query theprogrammable circuit to determine the stored user identity, andassociate the inventory with the user identity.

In some embodiments, the user identity is an anonymous user identitythat uniquely identifies the user but does not provide informationregarding a personal name of the user.

In some embodiments, at least one of the interrogator, the reader, andthe at least one processor are located outside the user-portablecontainer.

In some embodiments, the interrogator, the reader, and the at least oneprocessor are part of a portal device located outside the user-portablecontainer.

In some embodiments, the portal device defines a three dimensionalvolume configured to receive the user-portable container.

In some embodiments, the portal device defines a two dimensional surfaceconfigured to receive the user-portable container.

In some embodiments, the portal device is located at an exit of a store.

In some embodiments, the user-portable container compriseselectromagnetic shielding material configured to at least partiallyinhibit the interrogation signals from propagating to tags attached toitems outside the interior volume.

In some embodiments, the user-portable container compriseselectromagnetic shielding material configured to at least partiallyinhibit the reader from detecting response signals produced by tagslocated outside the interior volume.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to updatea user profile associated with the user identity based on the inventory.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to performan automatic checkout operation by calculating a total payment based onthe inventory, and by charging a payment account associated with theuser identity.

In some embodiments, the system further comprises a display, wherein theat least one processor is configured to display the inventory associatedwith the user identity on the display.

In some embodiments, the programmable circuit is reprogrammable to storea second user identity.

In another set of embodiments, the present disclosure is directed at amethod for inventorying items within a user-portable container uniquelyassociated with a specific user, the method comprising: repeatedlysending, from an interrogator, interrogation signals; detecting, at areader, identifying response signals produced by tags attached to itemswithin the user-portable container; generating, at at least oneprocessor communicably coupled to the reader, an inventory of itemsdisposed within the user-portable container based on the responsesignals; receiving, at a transponder communicably coupled to the atleast one processor, a user identity stored at a programmable circuit atthe user-portable container, wherein the user identity is uniquelyassociated with the specific user; and associating the generatedinventory with the user identity.

In some embodiments, the user identity is an anonymous user identitythat uniquely identifies the user but does not provide informationregarding a personal name of the user.

In some embodiments, at least one of the interrogator, the reader, theat least one processor, and the transponder are located outside theuser-portable container.

In some embodiments, the interrogator, the reader, the at least oneprocessor, and the transponder are part of a portal device locatedoutside the user-portable container.

In some embodiments, the portal device defines a three dimensionalvolume configured to receive the user-portable container.

In some embodiments, the portal device defines a two dimensional surfaceconfigured to receive the user-portable container.

In some embodiments, the portal device is located at an exit of a store.

In some embodiments, the user-portable container compriseselectromagnetic shielding material configured to at least partiallyinhibit the interrogation signals from propagating to tags attached toitems outside the interior volume.

In some embodiments, the user-portable container compriseselectromagnetic shielding material configured to at least partiallyinhibit the reader from detecting response signals produced by tagslocated outside the interior volume.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises updating, at the atleast one processor, a user profile associated with the user identitybased on the inventory.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises performing, at the atleast one processor, an automatic checkout operation by calculating atotal payment based on the inventory, and by charging a payment accountassociated with the user identity.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises displaying, at adisplay communicably coupled to the at least one processor, theinventory associated with the user identity.

In some embodiments, the programmable circuit is reprogrammable to storea second user identity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary portable container, according to someembodiments.

FIG. 2 depicts exemplary methods of attaching a portable electronicdevice to a portable container, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary portable container having an associatedsensor, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary portable container with a reader locatedoutside the portable container, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary portable container having an interrogatorlocated outside the portable container, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary portable container in communication with awireless device, which is in turn in communication with a secondexternal device, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary portable container having a chargingconnection, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary space having a plurality of portals andtransponders located throughout for interacting with portablecontainers, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary portable container having multiple readersconfigured to detect tags placed within the portable container,according to some embodiments.

FIG. 10 depicts an exemplary process for updating an inventory of tags,and performing an automatic checkout operation, according to someembodiments.

FIG. 11 depicts an exemplary configuration of antennas on a portablecontainer, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 12 depicts an exemplary portable container having an additionalmobile object disposed therein, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 13 depicts an exemplary portal having multiple readers, accordingto some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed at solving problems of inventorymanagement, point-of-sale, and data collection for consumers andretailers in a retail environment. The present disclosure furtherprovides inventions that will eliminate lines for payment and checkout.

These problems have been identified by the industry. However, to date nosolution has been put forth that can effectively solve the challenges ofinventory management and the checkout process. Of particularconsideration is the ability to identify: 1) who is the user/customer,2) what does the customer wish to pay for, and 3) what were thecustomer's shopping patterns during an in-store shopping experience.Heretofore proposed solutions to automate checkout have failed due tokey challenges in inventory management that are herein solved.

Provided herein are novel systems and methods of electronic containersthat interrogate, read, and communicate and use information from tagsassociated with items placed within a predefined volume. Of particularinterest is providing a portable container such that the predefinedvolume, or the predefined set of tags and associated items, aretransportable within a store or other environment. The systems andmethods taught herein enable the effective inventorying of items withina predefined volume and the use of this information to provide forpoint-of-sale and collection of shopping experience related data.

Portable containers may include, but are not limited to including, bags,shopping bags, carts, baskets, boxes, pocketed articles of clothing,pocketed materials, trays, suitcases, handbags, tables, and more. Aportable container may be associated with a portable electronic device(e.g., interrogator and/or reader) that serves to aid or performinventorying processes within or external to the portable container. Theportable container and portable electronic device may be separatecomponents that are attached together, may be distinct components thatare separable from each other, and/or may be integrated into the samecomponent.

Portable electronic devices, and portable containers, may havecomponents that perform a range of functions that include, but are notlimited to, transmitting an interrogating signal (the interrogator),receiving a signal via a reader (the reader), transmitting, receiving,or communicating information to or from an external or associated device(the transponder and the external device), energy storage, informationprocessing (the processor), sensing (the sensor), and more. Thesecomponents may be separate components that are attached together, may bedistinct components that are separable from each other, and/or may beintegrated into the same component.

A portable electronic device may perform all or a subset of thefunctionalities of a portable container. Typically, the portableelectronic device will be associated with a portable container, andtogether these objects comprise a complete inventory management,point-of-sale, and data management system.

An interrogator communicates power or information to tags. Thisinformation can include a signal to turn on a tag (if the tag is anactive tag), a signal to read a tag, a signal to program a tag, a signalto power a tag, and more. The interrogator typically comprises one or aplurality of antennas. These antennas may be located on, in, or near theportable electronic device or the portable container. They may have apredefined orientation with respect to a predefined volume. They mayinclude, but are not limited to including, dipole based antennas such asshort dipole, dipole, half-wave, broadband dipoles, monopole, and foldeddipole antennas; traveling wave based antennas such as helical,Yagi-Uda, and spiral antennas; reflector based antennas such as cornerand parabolic reflector antennas; microstrips such as rectangularmicrostrips (patch), and planar inverted-F antennas; log-periodic basedantennas such as bow tie, log-periodic, and log-periodic dipoleantennas; aperture based antennas such as slot, cavity-backed slot,inverted-F, slotted waveguide, horn, Vivaldi, and telescope antennas;and other antenna including near field communication antennas, fractalantennas and more. Exemplary antennas may comprise materials includingcopper, silver, metal, gold, plastic, polymers, ceramics, glasses,textiles, screen-printed materials, inks, conductive inks,semiconductors, and more for both interrogating and reading the signal.Each antenna may further provide a dual energy range. The energytransmitted by the interrogator may be an electromagnetic signal that isin the RFID, WiFi, RF, UHF, LF, HF, Broadband spectrum, and more.

The antenna may have a profile between 0.001 and 0.01 in{circumflex over( )}2, 0.01 and 0.1 in{circumflex over ( )}2, 0.1 and 1 in{circumflexover ( )}2, 1 and 10 in{circumflex over ( )}2, and greater than 10in{circumflex over ( )}2. The antenna may have a volume between 0.000001and 0.00001 in{circumflex over ( )}3, 0.00001 and 0.001 in{circumflexover ( )}3, 0.01 and 0.1 in{circumflex over ( )}3, 0.1 and 1in{circumflex over ( )}3, and greater than 1 in{circumflex over ( )}3.The antenna may have a mass between 0.000001 and 0.0001 grams, 0.0001and 0.01 grams, 0.01 and 0.1 grams, 0.1 and 1 grams, 1 and 10 grams, 10and 100 grams, and greater than 100 grams. The antenna may comprisematerials including, but not limiting to, metals, semiconductors,plastics, composites, ceramics, polymers, textiles, insulators and more.The antenna may be of a predetermined color or combination of colorsincluding, but not limited to, black, metallic, copper, silver, white,red, green, pink, blue, orange, yellow, purple and more. The antenna maybe partially or wholly transparent. The antenna may be flexible.

The interrogation signal typically comprises electromagnetic radiation.The wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation can be between 120 and250 nm, 250 and 500 nm, 500 and 1000 nm, 1 and 10 um, 10 and 1000 um, 1mm and 10 mm, 10 mm and 100 mm, 100 mm and 1000 mm, lm and 10 m, and 10m and more. Typically the signal will comprise radio-frequency signals.As one preferred embodiment, the interrogation signal may comprise860-960 MHz radiation, typically referred to as UHF RF radiation. Asanother preferred embodiment, the interrogation signal may compriseBluetooth RF radiation. As a still further embodiment, the interrogationsignal may comprise WiFi radiation. The interrogation signal may alsoinclude a plurality of wavelengths. The interrogation signal may furtherbe provided by one or a plurality of antennas.

The power of the interrogation signal is typically between about 0.01and 1 uW, 1 and 10 uW, 10 and 1000 uW, 1 and 10 mW, 10 and 100 mW, 100and 1000 mW, 1 and 5 W, and more than 5 W. The energy of theinterrogation signal may be between 1 and 100 nanojoules, 0.1 and 10microjoules, 10 and 1000 microjoules, 1 and 10 millijoules, 10 and 1000millijoules, and 1 or more joules.

The interrogation signal may be continuous, or may be intermittent.Typically, the interrogation signal will be on for between 0.1 and 1 ms,1 and 10 ms, 10 and 100 ms, 100 and 1000 ms, 1 and 10 s, 10 and 100 s,and more than 100 s. The duty cycle of the interrogation signal may bebetween 0.00001% and 0.0001%, 0.0001% and 0.001%, 0.001% and 0.01%,0.01% and 0.1%, 0.1% and 1%, 1% and 10%, and 10% or more. Theinterrogation signal may be turned on or off by a timing algorithm.

A reader receives power or information from tags. This information caninclude information about a predetermined item, inventory information,payment information, user information, security information, signalinformation, value information, store information, and more. The readertypically comprises one or a plurality of antennas. These antennas maybe located on, in, or near the portable electronic device or theportable container. They may have a predefined orientation with respectto a predefined volume. They may include, but are not limited toincluding, dipole based antennas such as short dipole, dipole,half-wave, broadband dipoles, monopole, and folded dipole antennas;traveling wave based antennas such as helical, Yagi-Uda, and spiralantennas; reflector based antennas such as corner and parabolicreflector antennas; microstrips such as rectangular microstrips (patch),and planar inverted-F antennas; log-periodic based antennas such as bowtie, log-periodic, and log-periodic dipole antennas; aperture basedantennas such as slot, cavity-backed slot, inverted-F, slottedwaveguide, horn, Vivaldi, and telescope antennas; and other antennaincluding near field communication antennas, fractal antennas and more.Exemplary antennas may comprise materials including copper, silver,metal, gold, plastic, polymers, ceramics, glasses, textiles,screen-printed materials, inks, conductive inks, semiconductors, andmore for both interrogating and reading the signal. Each antenna mayfurther provide a dual energy range. The energy transmitted by theinterrogator may be an electromagnetic signal that is in the RFID, WiFi,RF, UHF, LF, HF, Broadband spectrum, and more.

The antenna may have a profile between 0.001 and 0.01 in{circumflex over( )}2, 0.01 and 0.1 in{circumflex over ( )}2, 0.1 and 1 in{circumflexover ( )}2, 1 and 10 in{circumflex over ( )}2, and greater than 10in{circumflex over ( )}2. The antenna may have a volume between 0.000001and 0.00001 in{circumflex over ( )}3, 0.00001 and 0.001 in{circumflexover ( )}3, 0.01 and 0.1 in{circumflex over ( )}3, 0.1 and 1in{circumflex over ( )}3, and greater than 1 in{circumflex over ( )}3.The antenna may have a mass between 0.000001 and 0.0001 grams, 0.0001and 0.01 grams, 0.01 and 0.1 grams, 0.1 and 1 grams, 1 and 10 grams, 10and 100 grams, and greater than 100 grams. The antenna may comprisematerials including, but not limiting to, metals, semiconductors,plastics, composites, ceramics, polymers, textiles, insulators and more.The antenna may be of a predetermined color or combination of colorsincluding, but not limited to, black, metallic, copper, silver, white,red, green, pink, blue, orange, yellow, purple and more. The antenna maybe partially or wholly transparent. The antenna may be flexible.

The reader signal typically comprises electromagnetic radiation. Thewavelength of the electromagnetic radiation can be between 120 and 250nm, 250 and 500 nm, 500 and 1000 nm, 1 and 10 um, 10 and 1000 um, 1 mmand 10 mm, 10 mm and 100 mm, 100 mm and 1000 mm, lm and 10 m and 10 mand more. Typically the signal will comprise radio-frequency signals. Asone preferred embodiment, the reader signal may comprise 860-960 MHzradiation, typically referred to as UHF RF radiation. As anotherpreferred embodiment, the reader signal may comprise Bluetooth RFradiation. As a still further embodiment, the reader signal may compriseWiFi radiation. The reader signal may also include a plurality ofwavelengths. The reader signal may further be provided to one or aplurality of antennas.

The power of the reader signal is typically between about 0.01 and 1 uW,1 and 10 uW, 10 and 1000 uW, 1 and 10 mW, 10 and 100 mW, 100 and 1000mW, 1 and 5 W, and more than 5 W. The energy of the reader signal may bebetween 1 and 100 nanojoules, 0.1 and 10 microjoules, 10 and 1000microjoules, 1 and 10 millijoules, 10 and 1000 millijoules, and 1 ormore joules.

The reader signal may be continuous, or may be intermittent. Typically,the interrogation signal will be on for between 0.1 and 1 ms, 1 and 10ms, 10 and 100 ms, 100 and 1000 ms, 1 and 10 s, 10 and 100 s, and morethan 100 s. The duty cycle of the interrogation signal may be between0.00001% and 0.0001%, 0.0001% and 0.001%, 0.001% and 0.01%, 0.01% and0.1%, 0.1% and 1%, 1% and 10%, and 10% or more. The reader signal may beturned on or off by a timing algorithm. The reader signal may beencrypted.

A transponder communicates or receives information. A transponder may beattached to or integrated with a portable container or portableelectronic device, and used by the portable container and/or portableelectronic device to communicate with an external device. In addition orin the alternative, a transponder may be attached to or integrated withan external device, and used by the external device to communicate withthe portable container and/or portable electronic device. Theinformation communicated between the portable container/portableelectronic device and the external device can include inventoryinformation, user information, payment information, device statusinformation, information about the portable container, information aboutthe portable electronic device, marketing information, images, data,prices, promotional materials, coupons, targeted advertisements,advertisements, and more. The transponder may include WiFi, Bluetooth,Zigbee, ZWave, and more devices. The transponder may be wired orwireless. Typically the communication will be wireless, and may beencrypted.

The external device may include, but is not limited to including, mobilephones, tablets, computers, servers, displays, databases, smart devices,portable electronic devices, portable containers, robots, portals, andmore. The external device may be affixed to or associated with theportable container or portable electronic device. The external devicemay be distinct from the portable container or portable electronicdevice. The external device may be within a predefined distance of theportable container or portable electronic device. This distance willtypically be between 0.5 and 10 inches, 10 and 24 inches, 2 and 5 feet,5 and 25 feet, 25 and 100 feet, 100 and 500 feet, and more than 500feet.

The portable electronic device or portable container may also comprise aprocessor. The processor may perform a number of operations as part of aportable electronic device or portable container or both. The processormay serve to interpret, modify, or generate interrogation, reader, ortransponder signals or their derivatives. The processor may generateinformation for a display. The processor may be programmable. Theprocessor may include, but is not limited to including, microprocessors,semiconductor devices, FPGAs, printed circuits, microcomputers,computers, and more.

The portable electronic device or portable container can comprise anenergy storage device. The energy storage device provides energy forcomponents of the portable electronic device or portable container, orboth. Energy storage devices may include, but are not limited toincluding, batteries, fuel cells, capacitors, harvesters, and more. Inone embodiment, the energy storage device is one or a plurality oflithium ion batteries. The weight of the energy storage device isimportant due to the portability requirements of certain embodimentsherein. The energy storage device may weigh between 0.01 and 0.1 lbs,0.1 and 1 lb, 1 and 10 lbs, and more than 10 lbs. The energy storagedevice may contain between 0.001 and 1 Wh, 1 Wh and 10 Wh, 10 Wh and 100Wh, 100 Wh and 1 kWh, and more than 1 kWh or stored electrical energy.

The portable electronic device or portable container may be encased inor comprised of materials including plastics, polymers, metals,ceramics, composites, leather, wood, cork, other natural materials,textiles, and more.

The portable container or portable electronic device solves previouslyunsolved challenges of inventory management. Previous attempts toautomate checkout by use of tags associated with items that arewirelessly read by a reader have been unsuccessful. This is primarilydue to the inaccuracy of the read that is achievable with typical RFIDsystems, the preferred tagging paradigm. The read accuracy of a typicaltag through a typical gateway, whereby the tag is sufficiently small andinexpensive to merit association with an item in a retail environment,may be less than 95% accurate. Thus, some items may not be read and theautomatic checkout process would fail. Additionally, many itemsinterfere with the electromagnetic signals associated with the readingprocess. As an example, metallic or water-laden objects attenuate,absorb, or reflect the signal and result in poor readability bytraditional systems.

In some embodiments, the presently disclosed systems, apparatus andmethods overcome these challenges by providing for a portable container.The portable container defines a predetermined 3 dimensional volume.Providing a predetermined 3 dimensional volume that is easilytransportable by a human user (e.g., in the form of a shopping cart,handbag, backpack, or other hand-portable container), enables accuratereading of objects with previously unobtainable accuracy.

The portable container may define a predetermined 3 dimensional volumeof between 0.1 and 10 in{circumflex over ( )}3, 10 and 100 in{circumflexover ( )}3, 100 and 1000 in{circumflex over ( )}3, 1000 and 10000in{circumflex over ( )}3, 5 and 10 ft{circumflex over ( )}3, 10 and 1000ft{circumflex over ( )}3, and more than 1000 ft{circumflex over ( )}3.The predetermined 3 dimensional volume is the volume within which tagsof items are to be placed in order to be interrogated, read, or both.Other tags or objects may be included within the predetermined 3dimensional volume.

The portable container may comprise materials including, but not limitedto, plastics, polymers, metals, ceramics, composites, leather, wood,cork, other natural materials, textiles, paper, cardboard, nylon,optical materials, conducting materials, and more.

The portable container may define a predetermined 3 dimensional volumeby several methods. For example, in some embodiments, this 3 dimensionalvolume may be defined using shielding material. This shielding mayattenuate, absorb, reflect, amplify, or modify electromagneticradiation. The shielding may be wavelength-specific, and may shieldsignals of a predetermined wavelength or range or wavelengths but not adifferent predetermined wavelength or range of wavelengths. By means ofexample, the shielding may reflect or absorb UHF RFID signals, buttransmit Bluetooth signals. The shielding may be integrated into all orpart of the body of the portable container, or may be implemented as aseparate member that is attached to the portable container. Theshielding may define a shielded volume that includes all or part of theportable container.

The shielding material may include, but is not limited to including,metals, semiconducting materials, ceramics, foils, electronicallyconducting materials, magnetically susceptible materials, films, foils,fabrics, composites, paper, active or passive materials, antennas,absorbers, paints, adhesives, plates, and more. The shielding may bescreen printed, affixed, bolted, stitched, sewn, placed, or adhered tothe portable electronic object, or may be associated by other means, ormay be integral to the portable container.

The 3 dimensional volume may additionally be determined by means of oneor more readers. The one or more readers may be attached to orintegrated with the portable electronic device and/or portablecontainer, or may be external to the portable electronic device and/orportable container. The readers may also be oriented according tocertain pre-determined directions so as to define the 3 dimensionalvolume (e.g., oriented towards the interior of the 3 dimensionalvolume). By way of example, a plurality of readers may be present in thesystem. If a tag signal is read by a predetermined subset of thereaders, then the tag and associated item will be considered to bepresent in the predetermined 3 dimensional volume. If a tag signal isread by less than a predetermined number, or by a differentpredetermined subset of the readers, including no readers, then that tagand associated item will not be considered to be present in thepredetermined 3 dimensional volume.

The 3 dimensional volume may additionally be defined by means of havingone or more interrogators. The one or more interrogators may be attachedto or integrated with the portable electronic device and/or portablecontainer, or may be external to the portable electronic device and/orportable container. The interrogators may also be oriented according tocertain pre-determined directions so as to define the 3 dimensionalvolume (e.g., oriented towards the interior of the 3 dimensionalvolume). By way of example, if an interrogator signal of a certainpre-determined magnitude and/or range is able to interrogate a tag, thenthe tag is defined to be within the predetermined 3 dimensional volume.As an additional example, if a reader reads a signal from a tag, the tagis defined to be within a predefined 3 dimensional volume associatedwith the interrogator(s). Thus, the 3 dimensional volume can be definedby the orientation of one or more readers and/or one or moreinterrogators.

The 3 dimensional volume may additionally be defined by means of thepower of the interrogator or reader signal. Tags may only be read if thesignal is of a sufficient minimum magnitude, or of a magnitude within apredefined range. The orientation, geometry, power, or design of theinterrogator, reader, or both will determine the 3 dimensional volumewithin which a signal of sufficient power is provided to read orinterrogate a tag.

The 3 dimensional volume may additionally be defined by software. As anexample, RFID tags may return information to a reader including thepower of a signal. Software or an application may use this informationto define a range or power of signals, or a predetermined set oflocations of reader or interrogators associated with the signal, todefine a 3 dimensional volume.

The portable container may contain antennas in a predeterminedorientation to define a 3 dimensional volume. By means of example, theremay be one or a plurality of antennas associated with the sides of theobject, such that the interrogator or reader signal is substantiallyconfined within a predetermined 3 dimensional volume inside, outside, orboth of the boundaries of the portable container.

The portable container may have a predetermined geometry. Thispredetermined geometry may serve a number of purposes. As a firstpurpose, the geometry can be of aesthetic value. As an additionalpurpose, the geometry may serve to provide functionality as a portablecontainer. As a further purpose, the geometry may be optimized inconjunction with shielding to define a distribution of electromagneticenergy for the interrogation or reading of tags, or for the transpondersignal. By such means an optimization of the readability of tags withina predefined 3 dimensional volume can be achieved. This shaping andtuning of the electromagnetic radiation enables the reading of items,such as metallic objects, electronic objects, and produce, that werepreviously challenging or impossible to read accurately.

The tags may be associated with and/or affixed to items, and may storeinformation regarding those items. The information contained on the tagsmay include, but is not limited to including, ID numbers, iteminformation, UPC codes, security information, signal information, date,time, user information, and more. A tag is any object that containselectronic information that is interrogatable, or communicates a signalwith electromagnetic energy. The tags may be active or passive. Activetags comprise an energy storage device or energy source, such as abattery, whereas passive tags typically do not include an energy storagedevice or energy source, and instead derive power from an interrogationsignal from an interrogator. Tags may include RFID tags, HF tags, UHFtags, Bluetooth tags, beacons, ZWave devices, Zigbee devices, UPC codes,and more. One or more tags may be present on a single item. Tags mayalso be associated with the portable electronic device or portablecontainer. Information stored on the tags may be encrypted, permanent,or reprogrammable. The tag may have a profile between 0.001 and 0.01in{circumflex over ( )}2, 0.01 and 0.1 in{circumflex over ( )}2, 0.1 and1 in{circumflex over ( )}2, 1 and 10 in{circumflex over ( )}2, andgreater that 10 in{circumflex over ( )}2. The tag may have a volumebetween 0.000001 and 0.00001 in{circumflex over ( )}3, 0.00001 and 0.001in{circumflex over ( )}3, 0.01 and 0.1 in{circumflex over ( )}3, 0.1 and1 in{circumflex over ( )}3, and greater than 1 in{circumflex over ( )}3.The tag may have a mass between 0.000001 and 0.0001 grams, 0.0001 and0.01 grams, 0.01 and 0.1 grams, 0.1 and 1 grams, 1 and 10 grams, 10 and100 grams, and greater than 100 grams. The tag may comprise materialsincluding, but not limiting to, metals, semiconductors, plastics,composites, ceramics, polymers, textiles, insulators and more. The tagmay be of a predetermined color or combination of colors including, butnot limited to, black, white, red, green, pink, blue, orange, yellow,purple and more. The tag may be partially or wholly transparent. The tagmay be flexible.

The item to which a tag is associated and/or affixed may includeclothing, textiles, fashion items, jewelry, food, hardware, beverages,electronics, kitchenware, industrial items, parts, fasteners, storagemedia, home improvement products, tools, athletic wear, digital media,and more. The item may have a profile between 0.01 and 1 in{circumflexover ( )}2, 1 and 5 in{circumflex over ( )}2, 5 and 10 in{circumflexover ( )}2, 10 and 100 in{circumflex over ( )}2, 100 and 1000in{circumflex over ( )}2, and greater than 1000 in{circumflex over( )}2. The item may have a volume of between 0.1 and 1 in{circumflexover ( )}3, 1 and 5 in{circumflex over ( )}3, 5 and 10 in{circumflexover ( )}3, 10 and 100 in{circumflex over ( )}3, 100 and 1000in{circumflex over ( )}3, 1000 and 10000 in{circumflex over ( )}3, andgreater than 10000 in{circumflex over ( )}3. The item may comprisematerials including, but not limited to, plastics, ceramics, metals,semiconductors, textiles, fabrics, organic materials, composites,polymers, insulators, glasses, and more.

The items and their associated and/or affixed tags may be placed insideof the 3 dimensional volume defined by the portable electronic device orportable container. The items and associated tags may additionally beattached or affixed to the portable container by means of a fastener,strap, button, zipper, lining, stitching, or related attachment. Thus,by way of example, an item with an associated tag may be connected tothe portable container by means of a fastener, the fastener serving as ameans of communicating a reader signal from the tag to the reader.

The portable electronic device or portable container may also beassociated with an additional electronic device such as a mobile phone.The portable container or portable electronic device may be configuredto use wired or wireless interfaces to convey power and/or informationto the additional electronic device. Examples of wired interfaces caninclude, but are not limited to, USB, micro-USB, iPhone cable, iPadcable, RS232, and more. Examples of wireless communication can includeWiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, or inductive coupling. The information conveyed toand/or from the additional electronic device can include userinformation, inventory information, point-of-sale and paymentinformation, marketing information, advertisements, coupons, and more.

The wireless and/or wired communication may use transmission controlprotocol (TCP), user datagram protocol (UDP), internet control messageprotocol (ICMP), hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), post officeprotocol (POP), file transfer protocol (FTP), internet message accessprotocol (IMAP), link magnate protocol (LMP), Secure Shell protocol(SSH), OSI protocols, Secure Socket Layer (SSL), Ethernet globalizationprotocols (E6), Bitcoin protocol, transport layer security protocol(TLS), server message block (SMB) protocol, short message service,telnet protocol, TCP/IP model and stack, routing protocols, fiberchannel network protocol, frequency division multiple access, genericaccess network, Wimax standards, wideband integrated dispatch enhancednetwork, wideband code-division multiple access, universal mobiletelecommunication service, time division synchronous code Davion or arelated method. The signal may use modulation of pulse width,delta-sigma, pulse-amplitude, pulse code, pulse-density, pulse-position,digital baseband, analog, digital, which further may use phase-shiftkeying, frequency shift keying, amplitude shift keying, on-off keying,quadrature amplitude, continuous phase, orthogonal frequency-divisionmultiplexing, wavelet modulation, trellis coded modulation, spreadspectrum techniques, automatic digital modulation recognition (ADMR)pulse amplitude, pulse-width, pulse-position, differential PCM, adaptiveDPCM, pulse-density modulation, delta modulation, adaptive modulation,space modulation or a related method.

A critical problem that is solved herein is the challenge of creating apoint-of-sale that enables the user to checkout and provide payment fora predetermined set of items. Of interest is the ability of making thispayment and checkout process occur without the need to stand in a line,remove items from a shopping bag, or other inconveniences to theconsumer that may affect the shopping experience or the probability of asale.

The portable electronic device and/or portable container can define a 3dimensional volume as described herein. The portable electronic deviceand/or portable container can inventory tags present within this volume.Further provided is the ability to associate a user with the inventoryof tags within the 3 dimensional volume. Still further provided is theconnection to external databases and/or servers that can process paymentinformation. Still further provided is the ability of theuser/customer/employee to define a checkout operation. Thus, theportable electronic device and/or portable container can create apoint-of-sale opportunity and comprise a portable checkout system.

The portable electronic device and/or portable container can be used inconjunction with a payment system, such as but not limited to, creditcards, online payment, payment with a mobile phone, debit card, bankaccount, store balance, gift card, and more. Additionally provided is apayment reader that facilitates use of this payment system, such as acredit card, debit card, gift card, or other reader.

Identifying the user of a portable electronic device or portablecontainer may be desirable in certain embodiments of the presentinvention, including point of sale and retail analytics. Provided hereinare methods and systems to identify a user. These include, but are notlimited to including, associating the portable electronic device orportable container with an external device associated with the user,such as the user's mobile phone, tablet, or other electronic device.This association can be accomplished by pairing the portable electronicusing a wireless communication link (e.g., Bluetooth, NFC). Other waysof identifying the user of a portable electronic device or portablecontainer include scanning or reading media containing user informationincluding, but not limited to, credit cards, debit cards, store loyaltycards, RFID tags, and/or NFC tags. Yet other ways of identifying theuser include providing an interface for the user to provide a biometricsignature (e.g., a fingerprint scanner), or login information.

Still further provided are sensors associated with or integral to theportable electronic device or portable container. Additionalinformation, or supplemental information, to the informationcommunicated between tags and readers may be desired on items within aportable container. Of particular interest is having a secondary checkof the inventory of the 3 dimensional volume. Sensors may provideadditional information to aid in determining the presence or absence ofitems within a predefined 3 dimensional volume. This can solve concernsof security and others. Sensors may include, but are not limited toincluding, sensors of weight, size, color, sound, texture, transparency,reflectivity, spectral information, and more. By means of example of thefunctionality of a sensor, a portable container has a predefined 3dimensional volume. Suppose there are 4 tags associated with 4 items inthis volume, and 1 additional item without a tag, disposed within the 3dimensional volume. The reader reads 4 tags associated with items ofpredetermined weight. The sensor is a weight sensor. The weight sensordetects weight in addition to the expected weight of the 4 items withassociated tags. The weight sensor may then send a signal to atransponder that relays this information to an application on anexternal device, which indicates the weight detected by the sensor doesnot correspond to the expected weight of the 4 tagged items.

Information communicated to and from external devices may be used toperform a number of operations. External devices may include softwareand applications that interact with a portable container or portableelectronic device in predetermined ways. The information sent to anexternal device, including inventory and user information, may be usedto establish payments, provide data to a retail store employee, andmore. The information sent from an external device, including iteminformation, advertisement, price information, and more may be used bythe consumer/user to make decisions regarding their shopping experience.External devices will often have screens, displays, or indicators.Displays may include, but are not limited to including, LCD, LED, OLED,quantum dot display, TFT, CRT, Plasma, E-Paper, E-Ink,Electroluminescent, VF, Nixie Tube, HPA, SED, and others. The displaymay be associated with or affixed to the mobile object. The display maybe powered from a battery associated with or affixed to the mobileobject. The display may be turned on or off by a signal from an externalelectronic device, an internal electronic device, a switch, or a button.The display may display colors, light, information, words, symbols, andmore. The display may be a part of or associated with an electronicwireless device.

Information displayed or indicated may include, but is not limited toincluding, inventory, price, quantity, user information, portableelectronic device or portable container information and status, time,date, advertisements, marketing materials, logos, branding materials,coupons, help information, item information, availability, wirelesssignal connection status, and more.

The information communicated to and from external devices may assigntasks. By means of example, information communicated from an externalmobile device may assign the task of performing an inventory managementof the portable container. As an additional example, informationcommunicated to an external server may assign the task of performing apayment operation.

A portable container may contain additional container objects, oradditional portable containers. These may be attached, placed, affixed,or distinct. By means of example, a portable container may be a shoppingbag. There may be a second bag, a liner bag that does not provide thefull electronic functionality described by the portable container. Thisliner bag is placed substantially inside of the portable container andis removable. Additional items with tags may be placed inside of the 3dimensional volume defined by the liner bag. Thus, at the end of a usersession, the liner bag and items associated with the portable containermay be removed. As an additional example, multiple containers may beplaced within the portable container. These multiple containers maydefine subzones of the portable container 3 dimensional volume.

Portable electronic devices and/or portable containers may be desired tooperate within a predetermined location. By means of example, a portablecontainer may be desired to operate within one or a plurality of stores.Additionally, a predetermined location may have a number of predefinedzones. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to determine thelocation of portable containers and/or electronic devices, the locationof users, and/or the location of items or tags at greater resolutionthan the entire location. Information of these and other kinds may bewished to be acquired for zones or subzones of zones of thepredetermined location. By means of example, it may be desirable to knowwhen a portable container is present within a predefined zone defined tobe the entrance or exit to a store, the changing room, a display, ormore. It may yet further be desirable to know the contents of thisportable container, or user information.

To solve these problems a portal is provided. A portal is a predefined 2dimensional area or 3 dimensional volume. The portal may be stationary,or may be portable. Portals serve to provide a predetermined location(volume) within which to determine the presence or absence of items,portable electronic devices, portable containers, users, employees, andmore. By means of example, a portal may be a portable container orportable electronic device. By additional means of example, a portal maybe a predefined room of a store, such as a changing room. By additionalmeans of example, a portal may the entrance or exit of a store. Portalsare provided by components and devices described herein. These includeinterrogators, readers, transponders, and more. The presence or absenceof a predetermined object within a portal may trigger an event. By meansof example, the presence of a portable container with tags and itemssubstantially contained within its 3 dimensional volume in a portal maytrigger an inventorying operation, a payment operation, a sound, adisplayed signal, or other events. By additional means of example, aportable container may contain a reader and an energy storage device.When the portable container is located within or on a portal, whereinthe portal comprises one or more interrogators, the interrogators cansend an interrogation signal to tagged items disposed within theportable container, which causes the tags to respond with reader signalsthat are detected by the reader contained in the portable container. Theportable container can then relay tag information to an external device.By additional means of example, the portable container may contain atagged item. When the portable container is present in the 3 dimensionalvolume, or on the 2 dimensional area, of a portal, the portal performs areading operation of the tag associated with the portable container, andthis information is used to determine the presence of the portablecontainer within the portal. These and other embodiments are envisioned,and the discussion does not limit the provided embodiments herein.

Security is a critical feature of an automated checkout system. Weherein provide for the use of portals and portable containers to ensureminimal item attrition (items leaving the store without being paid for).The exit to the store can define, or be substantially defined by, aportal. The portal may comprise interrogators and/or readers. The portalmay read tags present within the portal's substantially predetermined 3dimensional volume. By means of example, a portable container is presentin the portal. The portable container contains items and associated tagsthat have been inventoried by the portable container, or a portableelectronic device. The portable container contains, or is in proximityto, additional items and additional associated tags that have not beeninventoried by the portable container or a portable electronic device.The portal reads these additional tags and sends a signal of theirpresence within the portal. As an additional embodiment, no portablecontainer is present within the portal.

It may be additionally desirable to not allow the removal of portablecontainers or portable electronic devices from a predetermined location.The exit to the store can define, or be substantially defined by, aportal. The portal may comprise interrogators and/or readers. The portalmay read tags present within the portal's substantially predetermined 3dimensional volume. Portable electronic devices or portable containersmay comprise a tag. The presence of a tag associated with a portableelectronic device or portable container in the portal may trigger asignal to be sent. This signal can include, but is not limited toincluding, an alarm, information to an external device, a voicenotification, displayed information, and more.

Portals, portable electronic devices, and portable containers can beused in a number of ways together or distinct from each other to providean enhanced shopping experience, automate payment and checkouts, providefor security if items, provide for security of information, provide dataon location of object and items, and more. The examples contained hereinprovide for the entirety of the scope of present invention, and oneskilled in the art can recognize the extension of the inventions hereinto additional applications. Thus, portals can define zones and subzonesof locations, including retail stores and homes.

Portable electronic devices and containers may comprise an energystorage device. This device is often electrochemical in nature, such asa battery. The portable electronic device or container may need to bereplaced, charged, or powered in the course of normal operation ofportable electronic devices and containers. Provided herein are systemsand methods of providing power to portable electronic devices andcontainers and/or the energy storage component therein. Means ofcharging a system may be provided by wired or wireless connection. Wiredconnection may include, but is not limited to including, AC and DCsignals, USB, microusb, DC jack, and more. Wireless power transfer mayinclude, but is not limited to including, induction, rectification,resonant inductive coupling, capacitive coupling, microwave, photonic,and more. Charging and power may be provided by portable means, at apredetermined location, or may be harvested by methods such as motionharvesting. As one preferred embodiment, a charging station will bepresent in a predetermined location. This charging station may define aportal. The charging station can be a rack, shelving, containers, atable, or more. There is further provided a method of an electronicmobile object: the energy storage device is powered by at least oneelectrical contact, the said electrical contact is on the strap of themobile object, the mobile object is hung on a wire that provides anelectrical contact with the strap, this powers the energy storageattached to the mobile object.

The portable electronic device and/or portable container may beassociated with a user for an extended period of time. It mayadditionally only be associated with a user or retail environment for apredetermined or non-permanent session. Thus, it may be desirable toremove data collected on a given user at the end of a session. Thus,herein provided are systems and methods to ensure the security of userdata. As one embodiment, by means of example, the presence of a portableelectronic device or container associated with a user in a predeterminedportal can trigger a signal to be sent to the portable electronic deviceor container, server, or others to erase, encrypt, or move user andsession information. As an additional example, the selection of afeature of an application on an external device associated with theportable container can trigger a signal to be sent to the portableelectronic device or container, server, or others to erase, encrypt, ormove user and session information. As an additional example, thepresence of a portable electronic device or container at a charginglocation or charging station may initiate the erasure or modification ofuser and/or inventory information, and may reset the portable containeror device. This may be performed by means of the charging stationcomprising a portal. This may additionally be performed by the energystorage device receiving a charging current.

The portable container or device may have means of sensing the currentcharge status of the energy storage device. A signal can be sent to adisplay, indicator, or external device that communicates the level ofcharge of the device and if charging is necessary.

In some embodiments, if a portable electronic object or portablecontainer determines that it has not contained any tags for a certaintime period, the portable electronic object or portable container cansend a signal to an external device associated with a store. The storecan then send an employee to retrieve and charge the portable electronicobject or portable container. The signal sent by the portable electronicobject or portable container can give the location of the object orcontainer.

A portable container describing a 3 dimensional volume may haveadditional zones defined within or external to the 3 dimensional volume.By way of example the portable container is a bag, the bag having 2pockets. Each pocket is defined as a zone. It may be desirable todiscern the location of a tag between the 2 zones of the bag. This canbe accomplished by establishing multiple portals within the portablecontainer, multiple portable containers within the first portablecontainer, and other means. Shielding, software, interrogators, andreaders can be used to define zones and subzones. There may be between 0and 1 zone, 1 and 2 zones, 2 and 10 zones, and greater than 10 zones.Zones may be modified or redefined by software.

Portable containers and devices have been provided that may communicatewith external devices. These external devices may be additional portablecontainers. The said communication establishes a mesh network.

The information gathered from portable electronic devices and containersand portals may be used in a number of ways, herein described. By meansof additional example, the information may be useful in optimizing thelayout of a retail store environment. Data that indicates theprobability of a user purchasing an item, for example, based on locationin the store defined by the presence of a portal may be used todetermine the optimum location of items within a store. This discussionis not meant to be limiting of the utility of information gathered todefining the operation, layout, and inventory of a retail environment.

The invention of portable containers and devices enables novel means ofestablishing a checkout operation. It may be desirable for a portablecontainer to be used by multiple users, and not removed from the storeby a single consumer. The portable container may contain a secondcontainer substantially overlapping the 3 dimensional volume of theportable container. This second container may comprise a tag. Theportable container can read the presence of this tag. During a shoppingsession, a user may place tagged items that he/she wants to buy into thesecond container (comprising the tag), which is disposed within the 3dimensional volume of the portable container. At the end of the shoppingsession, the user may remove the second container from the portablecontainer. When the second container is removed, the portable containermay detect that the tag associated with the second container is nolonger within the three dimensional volume. The absence of this tag mayinitiate or complete a checkout, payment, or point-of-sale operation.Thus, by means of example, the portable container is a bag, the bagcontains a liner bag with a tag. The liner bag contains items withassociated tags. Upon removal of the liner bag with the items inside, acheckout operation is performed for the items contained within the linerbag.

Additionally, checkout, payment, point-of-sale, advertisement, and otherevents may be initiated by the presence or absence of tags. By means ofexample, upon leaving a store an item may be dropped into the portablecontainer. The item has an associated tag. The tag is read by theportable container and an inventory operation is performed. The presenceof this tag initiates or completes a checkout process.

The present inventions provide systems and methods of portablecontainers and devices, portals, and store layouts that enable inventorymanagement, point-of-sale, analytics, and more. There is additionallyprovided communication between portable containers and devices andexternal, often wireless, devices.

Thus, in general, and by way of example, there is provided in FIG. 1 aportable container 100. The portable container 100 may comprise anelectronic energy storage device 101 powering a combined reader,interrogator, and transponder 102 (e.g., a portable electronic device)that interrogates with interrogating signal 103 the tag 104 placedinside or attached to the portable container 100 as part of or attachedto an item 105. In response to the interrogating signal 103, the tag 104may send, relay, and/or communicate information regarding the item 105via the reader signal 108 back to the reader 102. The tag 104 may be anactive tag that generates an electromagnetic signal using a powersource. The tag 104 may also be a passive tag that draws power from theinterrogating signal 103, and provides the reader signal 108 bypassively modulating the interrogating signal 103. Although only one tag104 is depicted, the portable container 100 may contain a plurality oftagged items, each of which may respond with a reader signal 108.

The portable container 100 may also comprise an adjunct processor and/ormemory storage device that maintains an inventory of items within theportable container 100 based on received reader signals 108. Thisadjunct processor and/or memory storage device may be located at theportable container—for instance, they may be part of the combinedreader, interrogator, and transponder 102, they may be part of one ormore separate device(s) in communication with the reader via a wired ora wireless communication interface, they may be placed within theportable container, integrated into the portable container, or coupledwith the portable container via a short range wired or wirelessconnection. Information regarding the received reader signals may betransferred from the reader to the adjunct processor via a communicationinterface, which may be a wired or a wireless communication interface.For example, the communication interface may comprise a wired bus, awired network connection, or a wireless connection such as a Bluetoothor NFC connection. This information may be transferred so that thedetected response signals may be analyzed in order to determine whetherthe tags from which the reader signals are received are located withinthe portable container or outside the portable container. For example,the adjunct processor may use the timing and/or polling algorithmsdescribed in detail herein to attempt to detect all of the tags disposedwithin the portable container, as well as to distinguish whetherdetected tags are within the portable container or outside the portablecontainer.

The combined reader, interrogator, and transponder 102 may also transferall, a subset, or information derivative of the reader signals 108 toexternal device 106 via communication interface 107. Communicationinterface 107 may comprise a wired or a wireless communication link, asdescribed herein. In some embodiments, instead of having a processorthat is part of the reader/interrogator/transponder 102 maintain theinventory of items, an processor and/or memory storage device that ispart of the external device 106 may be configured to maintain theinventory of items based on reader signals received byreader/interrogator/transponder 102. The external device 106 may be, forinstance, a computer, a laptop, a server, a processing station, tablet,a mobile phone, a smart phone, any other mobile or non-mobile processingdevice, or any combination of the foregoing devices. In someembodiments, the external device 106 may store and/or execute software(e.g., an application) that receives and analyzes information regardingthe detected reader signals in order to maintain the inventory of items,and to determine whether the items are within the portable container oroutside the portable container. For example, the adjunct processor thatis part of the external device 106 may also use the timing and/orpolling algorithms described in detail herein to attempt to detect alltags disposed within the portable container, as well as to distinguishwhether detected tags are within the portable container or outside theportable container.

The reader, transponder, interrogator, and energy storage device maytogether or separately comprise a portable electronic device. Thisportable electronic device may be removable, separable, distinct from,or integral to the portable container. Thus, by way of example, aportable electronic device can be placed within a container to define aportable electronic container.

The portable container 100 may produce sounds, visual signals, tactilesignals, or vibrations that indicate readability of tags, and/or whethertags have been successfully read. The portable container 100 maytransfer information to an electronic device (e.g., 106) to make asound, visual information, tactile signal, vibration, or a combinationthereof. This sound may be transferred to headphones, ear-buds, andother electronic devices. The portable container and/or the electronicdevice (e.g., 106) may also have a display that may flash, turn on, ordisplay a static or changing image. This display may convey informationregarding point of sales, checkout information, target analytics, targetadvertising, inventory, item information, consumer behavior, or relayrelated information.

The portable container 100 may contain a navigation circuit (not shown)as part of the electronics. For example, such a navigation circuit maybe included as part of the combined reader, interrogator, andtransponder 102. This navigation circuit may be a global positioningsystem or an indoor positioning system that interacts with transponderslocated throughout an indoor or outdoor space (e.g., Bluetooth, NFC,RFID, or other wireless transponders within an indoor or outdoor space)to enable the portable container 100, the wireless electronic device106, and/or a remote server to determine the location of the portablecontainer 100. This positioning information may be sent to an electronicdevice, such as wireless electronic device 106, and/or a remote server(not shown).

The portable container 100 may additionally include circuitry and/orinterfaces for determining an identity associated with a user, and toassociate the device with the user. For example, the combined reader,interrogator, and transponder 102 may communicate with wirelesselectronic device 106, which may provide the portable container with anidentity of the user (e.g., a user name, or unique serial number thatcan be used to identify the user). The combined reader, interrogator,and transponder 102 may be configured to establish a user session (e.g.,pair) with the wireless electronic device 106 via a wirelesscommunication link (e.g., Bluetooth, NFC). The user identity mayidentify a real name of the user, or may be an anonymous user identitythat uniquely identifies a user for record keeping purposes, butprovides no personal information about the user (e.g., the user's realname). Information sent over any wireless communication link may beencrypted. The portable container, and/orreader/interrogator/transponder 102 may also comprise a scanner orreader configured to scan or read media containing user information,including but not limited to, credit cards, debit cards, store loyaltycards, RFID tags, and/or NFC tags. The portable container may alsocomprise a biometric sensor configured to measure a biometric signatureassociated with the user (e.g., a fingerprint scanner), and/or a userinterface that allows a user to provide login information (e.g., ausername and/or a password). The portable container may communicate withwireless electronic device 106 and/or a remote server (not shown) toaccess an online profile of the customer in order to determine anidentity of the user, or to update a user's preferences, purchasehistory, or other information. The user interface may also allow a userto perform other functions, such as call for help or store assistance.

The portable container may comprise the colors of white, blue, black,brown, orange, yellow, red and a combination thereof. The portablecontainer may be packaged in a plastic, metal, paper, linen, textile,glass, tape or a combination thereof. The portable container packagingmay have an insignia, image, pattern, writings, advertisement, avatar,symbol, or related object; and this can be a single color or combinationof colors. The portable container may have a hook, magnet, pin, orrelated object.

In some embodiments it may be desirable to use timing algorithms todetermine when interrogator, reader, transponder and other signals aresent or received, and to interpret the sent or received information.Timing algorithms may specify that certain actions, such as the sendingof interrogation signals, scanning for reader signals, and/or sending oftransponder signals, be performed within a range of nanoseconds tomicroseconds, microseconds to milliseconds, milliseconds to seconds,seconds to minutes, and above. Timing algorithms may be used for anumber of reasons. Of primary interest are optimizing the functionalityof a portable electronic device or container. One critical aspect ofperformance is lifetime between charging. Sending and receiving signalsmay consume energy stored in an energy storage device. Minimizing theamount of energy used to read effectively is of value. Timing algorithmsmay be used to only send interrogation signals or receive reader signalsat predetermined times, or as controlled by a user or software program.Thus, by means of example, a signal may not be on 100% of the time.Timing algorithms may additionally be used to determine informationabout location of tags within a predetermined 3 dimensional volume. Bymeans of example, an interrogating signal may be sent at time x, and areader signal may be received at time x′. The difference between time x′and time x may be used to determine the distance between theinterrogator, reader, and tag. Antennas may be powered or active at thesame, different, or at predetermined intervals. The said portableelectronic device or container may additionally be always on. Anexternal device may signal an interrogation or reader signal event.

Timing algorithms may also be critical to the functionality of aportable electronic device or container. If signal intervals are tooshort, or too infrequent, misreading, poor reading, or suboptimalinventorying can occur. This can be due to insufficient rectification ina tag, for example. Thus, it is desirable for signals to be sufficientlylong and frequent to accurately record inventory information.

Additional algorithms, such as polling algorithms, may be used duringoperation of portable electronic devices and containers. Some readers,such as RFID readers, are not 100% accurate. Consequently, it can be achallenge to detect the presence of a tag located within the interiorvolume of a portable container, as well as confirming whether a receivedresponse signal is originating from a tag that is within the interiorvolume or outside the interior volume. By using a predeterminedalgorithm, the presence or absence of tags can be confirmed, and/ordetected response signals can be verified to be within the interiorvolume or outside the interior volume. By means of example, aninterrogator signal may be sent 5 times per second (the interrogatorfrequency). A reader signal may be received 5 times per second (thereader frequency). In this embodiment, over 2 seconds, 10 interrogationand reading signal events may occur (the signal count). If a tag is readmore than 5 times (the positive value) in the 10 signal events, it shallbe considered to be present in the predetermined 3 dimensional volume ofthe portable container or device, and can be added to an inventory ofitems describing the contents of the portable container. If a tag isread less than 5 times (the negative value) it shall not be consideredto be present. If a tag is currently in inventory, but is not read for 5consecutive signal events (the absence value), it will no longer beconsidered to be present and will be removed from inventory. Thisexample is by no means limiting. Interrogator frequencies can range from0 to 10 times per second, 10 to 100 times per second, 100 to 1000 timesper second, and greater than 1000 times per second. Interrogatorfrequencies can additionally range from 0 to 1 time per minute, 0 to 1time per 10 minutes, 0 to 1 time per hour, and longer. Readerfrequencies can range from 0 to 10 times per second, 10 to 100 times persecond, 100 to 1000 times per second, and greater than 1000 times persecond. Reader frequencies can additionally range from 0 to 1 time perminute, 0 to 1 time per 10 minutes, 0 to 1 time per hour, and longer.The signal count (e.g., the number of interrogation and reading signalevents that is kept in memory and analyzed) can be between 1 and 5, 5and 10, 10 and 25, 25 and 100, and greater than 100. The positive value(e.g., the number of positive reads of a tag that is required before atag is added to the inventory of items) can be between 0 and 1, 1 and 5,5 and 10, 10 and 25, 25 and 100, and 100 and greater. The negative value(e.g., the number of negative reads of a tag that can cause a tag to notbe added to the inventory of items) can be between 0 and 1, 1 and 5, 5and 10, 10 and 25, 25 and 100, and 100 and greater. The absence value(e.g., the number of consecutive signals for which a tag is absentbefore the tag is removed from inventory) can be between 0 and 1, 1 and5, 5 and 10, 10 and 25, 25 and 100, and 100 and greater. In somepreferred embodiments, the interrogator frequency is between 1 and 10times per second, the reader frequency is between 1 and 10 times persecond, the positive value is between 1 and 10, the negative value isbetween 1 and 5, and the absence value is between 1 and 5. In somecases, these interrogator frequencies, reader frequencies, positivevalues, negative values, and/or absence values can appropriately balancethe need for power conservation as well as for accurate reading of tagswithin the container, although other settings may also be desirable incertain circumstances.

The portable container 100 described in FIG. 1 may optionally includeone or more shielding elements that comprise shielding material. Theshielding material may include a metal to reflect electromagneticsignals, a material with high water content to absorb the signal, and/orother related materials to either attenuate, absorb, modify, and/orreflect such electromagnetic signals. Such materials can include, butare not limited to, metals, semiconductors, insulators, plastics,dielectrics, ceramics, composites, active media, nanomaterials,micromaterials, and more. The shielding can be specific to a particularwavelength range, such as 120 to 100 nanometers, 100 to 1000 nanometers,1 to 10 microns, 10 to 1000 microns, 1 to 10 millimeters, 10 to 100millimeters, 100 to 1000 millimeters, 1 meter and 10 meters, and greaterthan 10 meters. The shielding may be printed onto all or part of theportable container 100, placed on a liner disposed within the portablecontainer, on part of a pocket, on straps of the portable container, andon accessories of the portable container.

The shielding material can be used to enhance the accuracy of theinterrogator/reader/transponder 102 in inventorying the contents ofportable container 100. For example, the shielding material can beattached to the housing of the portable container such that it definesat least part of the interior volume of portable container 100. In someembodiments, the shielding material can cover less than 10%, between10-25%, between 25-50%, between 50-75%, or between 75-100% of theinterior volume of portable container 100. The shielding material can beplaced and configured to at least partially inhibit the interrogationsignals 103 from propagating outside the interior volume. The shieldingmaterial can also be placed and configured to at least partially inhibitinterrogation signals from other interrogators (e.g., interrogators fromother portable containers—not shown) from propagating into the interiorvolume. The shielding material can also be placed and configured to atleast partially inhibit the reader signals 108 from propagating outsidethe interior volume. The shielding material can also be placed andconfigured to at least partially inhibit reader signals from tagslocated outside the interior volume from propagating into the interiorvolume, or from being detected by the interrogator/reader/transponder102. The shielding material can be configured to affect certainwavelengths more than others. For instance, the shielding material canblock, absorb, attenuate, or reflect interrogation signals moreeffectively than reader signals, or vice versa.

In some embodiments, the shielding material can also be configured toreflect either interrogation or reader signals in order to aid inreading tags placed within the portable container. For instance, onepotential problem with obtaining an accurate read is that a singleinterrogator placed within the portable container may not be able toeffectively reach all parts of the portable container with interrogationsignals, especially if there are one or more items within the portablecontainer that comprise metal or water-rich components that can block orabsorb interrogation signals, and prevent the interrogation signals fromreaching other items. Similarly, tags that emit reader signals may notnecessarily be detected by the reader if there are items within theportable container that block the reader signals' path. By providingshielding material that reflects interrogation signals and/or readersignals around within the interior volume of the portable container,interrogation signals from an interrogator and/or reader signals fromone or more tags can more easily reach all parts of the portablecontainer. This can increase the likelihood that an interrogation signalcan reach all tagged items disposed within the portable container, andthat a reader signal from all tagged items can reach the reader.

FIG. 2 illustrates a reader 202 affixed to portable container 200 by anattachment object 201, according to some embodiments. The saidattachment object may include but is not limited to a male component ofa fastener, a female component of a fastener, stitches, a mechanicalattachment, a magnetic connection to the mobile object, a clasp, azipper, a button, tape, glue, Velcro, a screw, a pin-in-socket, anelectrical contact, and more. The attachment object may affix the readerto the portable container in a pocket, to a pocket, in the liner of themobile object, to a predetermined location, or on a predeterminedmaterial, component, or section. The reader may be attached to materialincluding, leather, suede, cotton, linen, polyester and blends, rayon,silk, tapestry, velvet and velveteen, fur, faux fur, plastic, ceramic,semiconductor, metal, textile, screen printed material, and more. Theportable container 200 may be a tote, a purse, a handmobile object, aplastic object, a paper object, a wooden object, a metal object, aclutch, a shopping bag, a shopping cart, a box, a personal bag, or acombination thereof. The portable container 200 may be considered auser-portable container in that it can easily be carried or maneuveredby one or more humans of average strength and dexterity. The componentsof the reader may be printed onto a material including but not limitedto leather, suede, cotton, linen, polyester and blends, rayon, silk,tapestry, velvet and velveteen, faux fur, plastic, ceramic,semiconductor, and metal, and affixed by the said attachment object tothe portable container. The portable container may be a bag that isplaced inside a tote, a purse, a handmobile object, a plastic object, apaper object, a wooden object, a metal object, a clutch, a shopping bag,a shopping cart, a box, a personal bag, or a combination thereof. Thereader 202 may comprise hardware components including one or more analogcircuits, AC/DC converters, AC adapters, micro-controllers, processors,system interfaces, digital circuits, antennas. The reader 202 may alsocomprise wires attached to the portable container 200, to a liner of theportable container 200, and/or to a pocket of the portable container200. The wires may be adhesively attached to the portable container 200,stitched to the portable container 200, printed to the portablecontainer 200, and/or magnetically coupled to the portable container200. The said reader 202 may be attached to material including, leather,suede, cotton, linen, polyester and blends, rayon, silk, tapestry,velvet and velveteen, faux fur, ceramic, semiconductor, plastic, andmetal. The reader 202 may comprise any desired shapes including butlimited to a cylinder, a planar/thin film, a box, and/or a rectangle.The reader 202 may also be flexible. The reader may further have apredetermined modulus, yield strength, and geometry.

As illustrated by way of example in FIG. 3, a portable container 300 mayhave a sensor 301 that communicates with the reader 302. The reader mayreceive reader signals 305 from a plurality of tags 307. The sensor 301may send a signal 303 to the reader 302; based on the signal 303, thereader 302 may in turn send signal 304 to the wireless electronic device306. Signal 304 may comprise all or part of signal 303, and/orinformation derived from signal 303. The signal 303 may be wireless orwired. Sensor 301 may comprise one or more sensors configured todetermine information regarding tags 307, items to which tags 307 areaffixed, or a current status or attribute of portable container 300.This information may include but is not limited to globalpositioning/navigation (e.g., the current position of the portablecontainer); ambient temperature/weather; and weight, spectralcharacteristics, acoustic characteristics, density, and/or chemicalcharacteristics related to the tags 307 and/or the items to which tags307 are affixed. The sensor may be separate or may be part of theportable container. This information of the sensor is sent to the reader302, which additionally acts as a transponder. The reader 302 maycommunicate with an external electronic device 306 via a wired orwireless communication link. If the reader 302 communicates with device306 via a wireless communication link, the link may use a wavelengthrange different from a wavelength range used by signals 303 and/or 305.The external electronic device 306 may also communicate with otherelectronic devices using various communication methods, including butnot limited to, a local area network (LAN) a wide area network (WAN),beacons, a cellular network, and more.

The reader may have a profile between 0.25 and 1 in{circumflex over( )}2, 1 and 10 in{circumflex over ( )}2, 10 and 100 in{circumflex over( )}2, and greater. The reader may have a volume of between 0.001 and0.1 in{circumflex over ( )}3, 0.1 and 1 in{circumflex over ( )}3, 1 and10 in{circumflex over ( )}3, and greater. The reader may comprisematerials including, but not limited to, metal, semiconductor, plastic,ceramic, insulator, and glass.

The reader 302 may contain multiple paired antennas for bothinterrogating and reading the signal. Multiple antennas may be placed inthe mobile object. A single antenna may be placed outside the portablecontainer and placed in the portable container. Multiple antennas may beplaced both in the portable container and outside the portablecontainer. The antennas may be wearable on the external wireless device.The antennas may include directional and omni-directional antennas.

As illustrated by way of example in FIG. 4, the reader may be externalto the portable container. The portable container 400 may comprise anenergy storage device 401 that powers an interrogator 402 within thecontainer 400. The interrogator sends an interrogation signal 403 totags 404 associated with items 405. The tag sends or relays a readersignal 408 to the reader 406, wherein the reader 406 is not containedwithin the predefined 3 dimensional volume of the bag whereby tags willbe read. The reader may additionally send information to an electronicdevice 407. The electronic device may be wireless. The reader may haveat least one antenna for communicating with electronic device 407, oneantenna for reading, or a combination thereof. Each antenna may furtherprovide a dual energy range. The energy transmitted by the interrogatorand/or reader may be an electromagnetic signal in a certain wavelengthrange, including without limitation, the RFID, WiFi, RF, UHF, HF, and LFBroadband spectrums, among others. The electromagnetic signal may alsoinclude electromagnetic radiation in the visible, infrared, ultraviolet,radiowave, and/or microwave spectrum, among others. Reader 406 may becommunicably coupled with device 407, and device 407 may be connected toother devices (not shown) via a local area network (LAN), a wide areanetwork (WAN), beacons, a cellular network, and more. The externalelectronic device 407 may also be communicably coupled with otherreaders and/or interrogators (not shown) via a wired or wirelesscommunication link.

The interrogator and reader signal may be of substantially differentwavelengths, or of substantially similar wavelengths. The portablecontainer 400 may additionally comprise shielding. This shielding may beconfigured in such a way as to allow reader signal 408 to exit thepredefined 3 dimensional volume while at least partially inhibitinginterrogation signal 403 from propagating outside the predefined 3dimensional volume. By way of example, the portable container may be a 5sided box, with the top open. Interrogator 402 may be oriented in such away that no part (or only a relatively small part) of the interrogationsignal 403's field of view is accessible via the opening in the box. The5 sides may be shielded with a material that is capable of at leastpartially reflecting and/or absorbing the interrogation signal and/orreader signal 408. The reader signal 408 may be oriented in such a wayas to substantially or partially escape the predefined 3 dimensionalvolume through the opening in the box. For example, the tags 404 may beconfigured to generate an omnidirectional reader signal 408, such thatat least a portion of the reader signal escapes through the opening inthe box. This reader signal can then be detected by reader 406. Asanother example, reader signal 408 may operate within a first wavelengthrange, while interrogation signal 403 may operate within a secondwavelength range. The shielding may be configured to allow signalswithin the first wavelength range to pass through, while blocking,reflecting, absorbing, attenuating, or otherwise modifying signalswithin the second wavelength range. In this way, the shielding may atleast partially prevent interrogation signal 403 from exiting the threedimensional volume defined by container 400, while allowing readersignal 408 to exit the three dimensional volume.

As illustrated by way of example in FIG. 5, the interrogator may beexternal to the portable container. The portable container 500 comprisesan energy storage device 507 that powers a reader 506. An interrogator501 located outside the portable container sends an interrogation signal502 to tags 503 associated with items 504. In response to theinterrogation signal 502, the tag sends, relays or provides a readersignal 505 to the reader 506. The reader may additionally comprise atransponder and send information to an electronic device 509 bytransponder signal 508. The electronic device 509 may be wireless.Although the interrogator 502 and the device 509 are depicted in FIG. 5as separate devices, in some embodiments, the two devices may beintegrated into a single device. The energy transmitted by theinterrogator and/or the reader may be an electromagnetic signal that isin the RFID, WiFi, RF, UHF, HF, and/or LF Broadband spectrum, amongothers. The electromagnetic signal may also include radiation in thevisible, infrared, ultraviolet, radiowave, and/or microwave spectrum,among others. The device 509 and/or interrogator 501 may communicatewith other devices (not shown) via a wired connection, a wirelessconnection, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN),beacons, a cellular network, and/or other communication methods.

The interrogation signal 502 and reader signal 505 may be ofsubstantially different wavelengths, or of substantially similarwavelengths. The portable container 500 may additionally compriseshielding. This shielding may be configured in such a way as to allow anexternal interrogator signal to enter the predefined 3 dimensionalvolume while at least partially inhibiting any reader signal frompropagating outside the predefined 3 dimensional volume. By way ofexample, the portable container may be a 5 sided box, with the top open.The reader signal may be oriented in such a way that no part of thesignal's field of view is accessible via the opening in the box. The 5sides may be shielded with a material that is substantially reflectiveor absorptive of the interrogating and/or reader signal. Theinterrogator signal may be oriented in such a way as to substantially orpartially enter the predefined 3 dimensional volume through the openingin the box. As another example, interrogation signal 502 may operatewithin a first wavelength range, while reader signal 505 may operatewithin a second wavelength range. The shielding may be configured toallow signals within the first wavelength range to pass through, whileblocking, reflecting, absorbing, attenuating, or otherwise modifyingsignals within the second wavelength range. In this way, the shieldingmay at least partially prevent reader signal 505 from exiting orpenetrating into the three dimensional volume defined by container 500,while allowing interrogation signal 502 to penetrate into the threedimensional volume. The shielding may also at least partially inhibitreader signals from tags located outside the interior volume frompropagating into the interior volume, and/or from being detected byreader 506. In this way, the shielding may enhance the accuracy of theread obtained by reader 506.

By way of example there is provided in FIG. 6 a portable container 600.The container 600 may comprise an electronic energy storage device 601powering a combined reader, interrogator, and transponder 602 thatinterrogates with interrogating signal 603 the tag 604 placed inside orattached to the portable container as part of or attached to an item605; where this tag sends, relays, or communicates information (thereader signal) 608 back to the reader; where all, a subset, or aderivative of this information is transferred to a wireless electronicdevice 606 by an electromagnetic signal (the transponder signal) 607.All, a subset, or a derivative of this information is then communicatedfrom wireless electronic device 606 to an external device 609. Theexternal device 609 may include a server, database, smart device,computer, and more. The external device 609 may communicate informationto the wireless electronic device 606. The electronic device maycomprise a display 610. The electronic device 606 and/or the externaldevice 609 may be configured to maintain an inventory of items disposedwithin the portable container 600. The information relayed to theexternal device 609 may also be used by the external device 609 invarious ways. For example, the external device 609 and/or wirelesselectronic device 606 may implement an automatic checkout procedure,whereby a total dollar amount associated with the inventory of items iscomputed, the dollar amount is presented to the user for confirmation,and, when confirmation is received, the dollar amount may beautomatically deducted from a bank account, credit card account, orother payment account associated with the user.

For systems of the general type described herein, the tag may be anactive tag powered by an energy storage device attached to, affixed to,or affiliated with the tag, and/or the portable container. The tag maybe passive, wherein the interrogating electromagnetic energy powersand/or interacts with the tag. The interrogator may turn the tag on oroff using a defined signal if the tag has the built-in capability to beturned on. In embodiments using a passive tag, references herein togenerating, sending, transmitting, or otherwise providing a readersignal that can be detected by a reader should be understood to refer toa modulation of the phase, amplitude, and/or frequency of aninterrogation signal provided by an interrogator. Tags may also beprogrammable. For instance, the tag may be programmed by the readerand/or interrogator to transmit or to not transmit when the tag isinterrogated by an interrogator, or when the tag is exposed to aspecific interrogation signal.

The tag may be serial read with an electronic code of 32-bit, 56-bit.The tags may comprise up to 4 Kilobytes of writable data. The tagssignal may have a cryptographic authentication code. The wireless devicemay be use P2P communication. The tag may comprise the ability tointeract with signals relating to RFID, NFC, UHF, LF, HF, WiFi,Bluetooth, BLE, Zigbee, Z-wave, and more. The mobile object may containitems that do not have tags affixed to them.

For systems of the general type described herein, the energy storagedevice may be at least one battery including but not limited to, lithiumion, metal-air, nickel metal hydride, alkaline battery, electrochemicaland flow battery. The battery may be primary or secondary. The energystorage device may include at least one capacitor. The energy storagedevice may be powered by an electrical wire contact, by means ofwireless induction, magnetic resonance, and rectifying antenna or acombination thereof. The energy storage device may be charged by anexternal charger through a USB cable. The electronic energy storagedevice may be connected to a reader, interrogator, and/or transponder byelectrical wire. The energy storage device may power the reader,interrogator, and/or transponder wireless by means of induction,magnetic resonance, and rectifying antenna. The electronic energystorage device comprising of more than one battery is in series,parallel, independent and a combination thereof.

The said electronic energy storage device may be powered byphotovoltaics, motion energy harvesters, and thermal energy harvesters.The energy storage device may be powered by an external electronicdevice. The portable electronic device or container may contain its owncharger connecting electronic components to the device. The charger mayinclude circuitry capable of AC/DC conversion, DC/DC conversion, signalfiltering including but not limited to linear filtering, non-linearfiltering, time-invariant filtering, time variant filtering, analogfiltering, digital filtering, discrete-time filtering, continuous-timefiltering, passive filtering, active filtering, infinite impulseresponse filtering, finite impulse response filtering and anycombination thereof. The charger may also comprise a surge protector.

The portable container may be a bag, a box, a cart, a plastic mobileobject, and more. The portable container may have a mass between 10 and100 grams, 100 and 1000 grams, 1000 and 10000 grams, 10 kilograms and100 kilograms, and 100 kilograms or more. The portable container mayhave a profile between 5 and 10 in{circumflex over ( )}2, 10 and 100in{circumflex over ( )}2, 100 and 1000 in{circumflex over ( )}2, andgreater than 1000 in{circumflex over ( )}2. The portable container mayhave a volume of between 5 and 10 in{circumflex over ( )}3, 10 and 100in{circumflex over ( )}3, 100 and 1000 in{circumflex over ( )}3, 1000and 10000 in{circumflex over ( )}3, and greater than 10000 in{circumflexover ( )}3. The portable container may have a hollow volume of between 1and 10 in{circumflex over ( )}3, 10 and 100 in{circumflex over ( )}3,100 and 1000 in{circumflex over ( )}3, 1000 and 10000 in{circumflex over( )}3, and greater than 10000 in{circumflex over ( )}3. The portablecontainer may comprise materials including, but not limited to,plastics, ceramics, metals, semiconductors, textiles, fabrics, organicmaterials, composites, polymers, insulators, glasses, and more. Theportable container may be configured to be used between 0 and 10 times,10 and 100 times, 100 and 1000 times, 1000 and 10000 times, and greaterthan 10000 times. The portable container may have one or more handles.In some embodiments, the portable container may be user-portable in thatit may be handled, moved, or maneuvered relatively easily by one or morehumans of average strength and/or dexterity.

The portable container, or predetermined components therein, may beresistant to water or be waterproof. The portable container may be dustproof, resistant to UV, resistant to predetermined chemicals,antimicrobial, resistant to corrosion, resistant to tampering, andresistant to theft. The portable container may communicate informationregarding status of the energy storage device, functionality of readeror interrogator or other components, or other predetermined information.This information may be used to check on the functionality of a deployedportable container.

The portable container and components therein, possibly including, butnot limited to, the reader or interrogator, may comprise a memorystorage device configured to store data, software, and/or firmware. Thissoftware may be modified by a remote signal. This memory may bereprogrammed according to a predetermined set of conditions relating tothe components of the bag. The portable container may be attached to,affixed to, or associated with a reader configured to read mediacontaining or referencing customer-specific or item-specificinformation. By means of example, but by no way excluding otherembodiments, an electronic credit card reader may be associated with, oraffixed to the portable container. This card reader may be in wirelessor wired communication with the reader or an external wireless systemwhich can communicate with an enterprise system.

The portable container may contain a bag, container, or other removableelement that can hold items. This element may be attached or affixed tothe portable container by means of a fastener, zipper, button, Velcro,mechanical attachment, magnetic field, or other attachment means. Theportable container may have an associated transponder element thatstores wirelessly readable information. This transponder element may bean active or passive RFID tag, or other information-containing elementsthat are readable by wireless signals. This transponder element may beused to identify the portable container, or to identify the location ofthe portable container. The portable container may have an ID numberstored digitally and/or in an analog format.

A portable container may communicate information to one or more wirelesselectronic devices, including but not limited to cellular phones,tablets, mobile gateways, wifi hubs, computers, and more. Multiplemobile electronic objects may connect to the same wireless electronicdevice, including but not limited to cellular phones, tablets, mobilegateways, wifi hubs, computers, and more. These external devices mayreceive, process, display, edit, and/or store information received fromthe portable device using an application based on a Software DevelopmentKit to record the data. The data may be used in part in an API.

As illustrated by way of example in FIG. 7 a portable container 700comprises an energy storage device 703 that provides power to anelectronic component 702 in communication with tags 701. Power, 705, isprovided to the energy storage device 703 by a charger 704. The powermay be transferred via one or a plurality of wires or wirelessly. Theremay be one or more electrical contacts associated with the electroniccomponent 702 and/or the energy storage device 703. The charger 704 maybe a rack, a table, a shelf, a wire, or more. The power may be AC or DCpower. The power may be communicated via induction. The electricalcontacts may be present on a predetermined feature of the portableelectronic device, such as a handle or a plug. The portable electronicdevice may need to be in a certain position relative to the charger. Aswitch may be present to enable charging.

Identifying the location of one or more portable containers, and theitems and users associated therewith, may be desirable, particularly ina store environment. There are several provided means of accomplishingthis location identification, or positioning. The first is by thepresence of portals. Portals may comprise devices or components thatdefine a 3 dimensional volume and/or a two dimensional surface with afixed or mobile location, and an interaction between a portablecontainer with a portal may define the location of the portablecontainer. The second provided means is that the portable container maycomprise a navigation component, the component identifying the locationof the portable container and communicating this information to anexternal electronic device, such as a mobile phone or a server. Anexample of a navigation component includes one or more GPS receiversthat determine the location of the navigation component (and theportable container of which it is a part) via GPS technology. Anotherexample of a navigation component includes one or more WiFitransponders, Bluetooth transponders, RFID tags, wireless tags, and/ormagnetic field detectors. The navigation component may interact with oneor more transponders located throughout a space (such as an indoor oroutdoor environment, including without limitation a retail store, asupermarket, a shopping mall, an airport terminal, etc.) to determinethe navigation component's location. For instance, the transponderslocated throughout the space may have known fixed or mobile locations,and may be configured to detect location signals produced by thenavigation component. By evaluating the location of the transpondersthat detect the location signals, the direction from which locationsignals were detected by one or more transponders, and/or the signalstrength of location signals detected by one or more transponders, aprocessor communicably coupled to the transponders (e.g., a processorthat is part of a server, or that is coupled with and/or located at thenavigation component that is part of the portable container) candetermine the location of the portable container. In some instances, thenavigation component affixed to the portable container may be a passivetag that produces location signals in response to location pollingsignals produced by the transponders located throughout the space—insome cases, the passive tag may produce the location signals bymodulating the location polling signals. Using such transponders may bepreferable to GPS technology, or may be a useful addition to GPStechnology, when determining the position of a portable container withinan indoor space where GPS reception may be comparatively weak. The thirdprovided means may be a wired or wireless connection between a portablecontainer and an external electronic device. This device may be a mobilephone. The external electronic device may substantially covary inposition with the user and with the portable container, such that theposition of the portable container and/or the user may be estimated bydetermining the position of the external electronic device. The externalelectronic device may have a navigation component similar to the typesof navigation components discussed above. Any or all of these means maybe used in combination to provide a positioning system configured todetermine the location of the portable container. For all providedmeans, the location information may be processed, and more specificallymay be processed by a server, a mobile device, an internal processor, orby other processing elements located within or external to the portablecontainer.

The location of a portable container, user, and associated items can beuseful to consumers, retailers, and marketers, for example. The systemsand methods provided herein provide for a previously unobtainableresolution of data collection and utilization, targeted marketing andassistance, inventory management, and more. By means of example, thelocation of a portable electronic container may be monitored with aresolution of 2 to 12 inches, 12 to 36 inches, 36 to 100 inches, 100 to360 inches, 30 to 50 feet, 50 to 100 feet, and 100 feet or more. Thetiming of changes in the portable container's location, and/or the timesat which items are added and/or removed from the portable container, maybe determined with a time resolution of 1 to 1000 microseconds to 1 to1000 milliseconds, 1 to 10 seconds, 10 and 1000 seconds, and more than1000 seconds. In some embodiments, the time resolution is between 0.1and 10 seconds and the location resolution is between 1 and 3 feet.

Information about the location of a portable container, a user, anditems may be stored, processed, and communicated. The information may bestored in a memory storage device located at the portable container. Theinformation may be stored on an external electronic device, such as amobile phone, connected with the portable container via a wired or awireless communication interface. The information may be storedexternally on a server, on a computer, on a smart device, on a tablet,or on another electronic device located at a different location than theportable container. By means of example, information about the temporaland spatial profile of a user, a portable container, and an inventorycan be stored on a local storage device comprising a portable electronicdevice associated with a portable container. Upon the detection of theportable container within, on, or close to a predefined portal in astore, the information may be transferred to a server via a transponder.The information may be encrypted. By means of additional example, awireless mobile device (e.g. a smartphone) may be associated with theportable container. The information of the temporal and spatial profileof a user, a portable container, and an inventory may be stored on thewireless mobile device. By further means of example the information ofthe temporal and spatial profile of a user, a portable container, and aninventory may be communicated via transponder to an external databasewithout being stored for extended periods of time on a storage deviceassociated with the portable container.

The methods and systems provided herein therefore enable the creation ofa user history. This user history can comprise a single visit to astore, a series of visits to the same store, or the same brand of store,a series of visits to multiple stores (potentially associated withdifferent brands), and online shopping history in conjunction within-store shopping history. This user history can comprise informationabout items placed within or removed from a portable container atdifferent points in time, the location of a user at different points intime, the location of a portable container at different points in time,and more.

By means of example a sample user history in space and time is provided:A use enters a store and receives a portable container. The portablecontainer is associated with the user by means of a mobile wirelessdevice, e.g. a smartphone, pairing with the portable container at12:00:00. The user takes the handmobile portable container into a firstarea of the store at 12:00:15, the first area being a men's apparelsection. The user goes up to a display with men's jeans at 12:00:20 andputs a pair of blue jeans of model X and of size Y. The user then visitsthe shoes department at 12:02:10, goes up to a display of sandals thatare marked on sale at 12:02:30, and puts a pair of size Z sandals ofmodel A into the portable container at 12:04:16. The user proceeds to anadditional display of sandals at 12:04:35, not shown to be on sale,removes the sandals of size Z of model A from the portable container at12:05:15 and replaces them with sandals of size Z of model B at12:05:17. The user then proceeds to the zone defined by jewelry at12:06:10, but does not add anything into the portable container. Theuser then proceeds to a zone defined to be a changing area at 12:15:12.The jeans of model X and of size Y are removed from the portableelectronic container. They are not returned, but are determined to bepresent in a predefined portal associated with the changing area. Stillin the changing area, a pair of jeans of model X and size Y′ are placedinto the portable container. The user then proceeds to a portalassociated with the exit to the store. A checkout event is initiated andthe user leaves the store with a pair of jeans of model X and size Y′and a pair of sandals of size Z and model B located within a liner bagthat was previously substantially contained within the portablecontainer.

This example demonstrates a subset of the sort of information obtainablefrom the provided systems. The data can be useful for several purposesincluding, but not limited to, the following. First, information aboutthe user, user preferences, and user inventory can be obtained. As anexample, from the example above, the user's size in jeans can bedetermined to be Y′, and not Y. Further, from the example above, theuser is understood to exhibit a preference for sandals of model B abovesandals of model A. However, the user was seen to be drawn to theon-sale display associated with sandals of model A. Still further, theuser can be determined to have possible interest in the purchase of ajewelry item. From this and other obtainable user preference and userinformation, a variety of utilities can be realized for both the userand the store. By means of example, without limiting the potentialutility of this information, a store may be able to provide targetedadvertising to the user. Furthering the above example, and leveragingthe information that the user may have potential interest in a jewelrypurchase, the user may be provided with information on jewelryinventory, or a coupon that provides a discount to the price of apredetermined set of jewelry items. This can be done in real-time viathe portable container, an associated device, or via e-mail or othermessaging means, for example. By further means of example, informationon many users and user histories can be compiled. For example, if userhistories associated with male users between the ages of 25 and 32 showthat most users first approach the sale display in sandals, and neverapproach a display on sandals of model C, information about the optimallayout for merchandise can be gathered. It can be understood by thisexample data that sandals of model C are not located in a locationconducive to attracting the attention of male users between the ages of25 and 32. In addition to using user history and user profileinformation to tailor and optimize store layout and provide targetedmarketing, the information can be used to determine popular items, theappropriateness of fit of clothing items, the number of items that arereplaced after being added to a user's portable container, the locationof items within a store, the types of shoppers that shop at certaintimes of day, the effectiveness of a display, and many other imaginableuses.

In some embodiments, portable electronic devices and/or portablecontainers may be operated within a pre-determined location, wherein thepre-determined location has one or more portals located at multiplepositions. As illustrated by way of example in FIG. 8, a predeterminedlocation 800 (e.g., a retail store) can comprise three separate portals:(i) a portal substantially defined by or associated with an entrance orexit 801, (ii) a portal that is a mobile portal 803, or (iii) astationary portal 802. When a portable container 804 is placed within a3 dimensional volume defined by a portal, or on a 2 dimensional surfacedefined by a portal, the portable container 804 and the portal mayexchange information. This information may include, but is not limitedto, the presence of the portable container, information identifying theportable container and/or one or more users currently associated withthe portable container (e.g., a user that is currently using theportable container), inventory information regarding items placed withinthe container, inventory information regarding items within or on theportal but not placed within the container, user information such asuser identity or characteristics, advertisements, a status of theportable container (e.g., battery charge, version of software and/orhardware, time since last service, model number, etc.), and more. Thepresence of a portable container in a predetermined portal may initiateor complete an action, such as payment or an inventorying event.

By means of example, upon portable container 804 entering the portal 801associated with the exit of a store, the portal 801 may detect theportable container 804 and cause a checkout event to be initiated. Byadditional means of example, upon portable container 804 entering theportal 801 associated with the exit of a store, an inventorying eventmay be triggered. By still further means of example, upon portablecontainer 804 entering the portal 802 associated with a changing room,information may be transferred between the portable container and anexternal wireless device. Portals may be present within or be associatedwith conveyor belts, on walls, in closets, as part of a computer system,and/or as part of mobile objects. Portals may be defined by, orassociated with, interrogators, readers, transponders, and othercomponents herein described.

Portals define 3 dimensional volumes and/or 2 dimensional areas withinor on which tags and/or portable containers may be identified, modified,or accounted for. It may be additionally, or separately, desirable toidentify the location of a portable container and/or an associated useror item within a predetermined location that is not limited to a 3dimensional volume that is a subset of the location. By means ofexample, a predetermined location may have associated with ittransponders 805, 806, and 807. These transponders may communicate withelectronic objects, tags, portable containers, mobile devices, and otherdevices. Together or separately, the transponders may comprise part of apositioning system (although other types of positioning systems are alsopossible, as described above). Transponders are not required to have apredetermined 3 dimensional volume of interaction.

Examples of transponders include: acoustic, Bluetooth, WiFi,electromagnetic, optical, visible, infrared, magnetic, Radio Frequency,and more. In one example of transponder functionality, at least 3transponders are required. By means of further example, a mobile device,such as a mobile phone, may have a navigation component installed, andinformation about location may be communicated to one or moretransponders from the navigation component. By still further means ofexample, the timing of signals received from a portable container and 1or more transponders, and more preferably 3 or more transponders, may beused to define a position within a space. The space may be a retailstore, a shopping mall, an airport terminal, or any indoor or outdoorspace. As an additional means of example, the strength of a signal froma portable container, a tag associated with a portable container, or anexternal device associated with a portable container, as received by oneor more transponders may be used to identify the location of theportable container, and the user thereof.

By these methods and extensions therein, data can be gathered on thelocation and behavior of users, items, and portable containers within apredetermined location (e.g., a retail store). This information can bevaluable in defining the optimal location or organization of goodswithin a retail store environment, in communicating information to staffabout users and user shopping experiences, and optimizing store layout,in addition to many additional uses that one skilled in the art willrecognize as direct extensions of the current invention.

As discussed previously, a portable container may define a 3 dimensionalvolume within which tagged items may be inventoried. The 3 dimensionalvolume may be defined by a portable container containing one or morereaders. The portable container object may have an associated zone orsubzone which is the intended 3-dimensional space within which tags anditems will be placed. This zone is accessed by electromagnetic signalsinitiated by an interrogator disposed within the 3 dimensional volume,or external to the 3 dimensional volume. The zone may be defined byshielding material that substantially attenuates, modifies, or interactswith predetermined wireless signals including, but not limited to,signals initiated by the interrogator, or signals detected by thereader. The zone may additionally be defined by controlling the wirelesssignals initiated by interrogator. By means of example, the interrogatormay emit a signal of a defined power and with defined direction. Thesignal may diminish in intensity as a predetermined function of distancefrom the interrogator. The zone may then be defined as the region in thevicinity of the interrogator wherein the signal is sufficient to read atag.

Still further, the zone may be defined by software. By means of example,one or more readers may be configured to apply a software filter toreader signals received from tags to determine whether the tags arewithin the three dimensional volume and/or two dimensional area of aportal or not. For example, the one or more readers may determine that atag is within the three dimensional volume and/or two dimensional areaif a certain minimum number of readers associated with the portalreceive a reader signal associated with a tag, but not if less than theminimum number of readers receive the reader signal. The one or morereaders may also determine that a tag is within the three dimensionalvolume if a signal strength of a reader signal associated with a tag isabove a certain threshold, but not if it is below a certain threshold.

Interrogators, readers, transponders (electronic devices) orcombinations therein may create a portal. The electronic devices may bestationary or mobile within a defined absolute vicinity, or a definedvicinity relative to another electronic device or defined zone. Theelectronic device may communicate with another electronic device via awired or wireless connection.

The electronic devices that define a portal may be used to define a 3dimensional volume. There may be many electronic devices (e.g., portals)placed over an area. These electronic devices may communicate with areader and systems connected to the reader. The electronic devices ofthe portal may determine the direction from which a reader signal from atag is received, signal strength of the reader signal, spectral andelectronic information of the reader signal, and can read taginformation sent. The electronic devices associated with a portal mayadditionally determine the same characteristics regarding other types ofsignals (e.g., signals other than reader signals from a tag). Theelectronic device may communicate with other readers or interrogatorsvia a wired or wireless communication interface. The electronic devicesmay define a zone, wherein the devices can detect when a portableelectronic device or container is in the zone. This can be achieved by,for instance, providing a portable container with a permanent ordetachable tag that identifies the portable container, and having theportal detect the tag using the same methods described above. The zonedefined by a portal may be a charging station. The electronic devicesthat define a portal may be turned on and off. The electronic devicesmay be active or passive.

The electronic devices that define a portal may be configured to emitsounds that indicate readability of tags. This sound may be transferredto headphones, ear-buds, and other electronic devices. The portal mayalso have, or be communicably coupled with a device having, a display.The display may be configured to convey information on point of sales,target analytics, target advertising, inventory, item information,consumer behavior, or relay related information. The electronic devicesof a portal may be part of or facilitate the functioning of apositioning system, as described above. The electronic devices at aportal may additionally query and/or receive a user identity. The portalmay receive this user identity by querying and/or receiving such anidentity from a paired portable container, or directly from a user by,for instance, establishing a wireless or wired communication sessionwith the user's mobile device, reading a piece of media associated withthe user, or receiving user login information via a user interface (asdescribed in detail herein). The portal may also access and/or edit anon-line profile of the customer being hosted at a server based on theinventory data collected by the portal. The communications between theportal and the server hosting the on-line profile may be encryptedand/or authenticated.

The electronic devices may triangulate to determine the exact positionof the tag and that it is within the field of view. An externalelectronic device may communicate with the reader to process thisinformation and send to the reader. The sensor and/or reader mayauthenticate a portable container in a reading zone of the tags. Theelectronic devices may be shielded from particular electromagneticsignal. The electronic devices may relay information about thisshielding and/or area of shielding to a particular volume.

The “zone” or 3 dimensional volume as mentioned in the above discussionmay be used for payment purposes of the portable container. The “zone”as mentioned may be defined by software. This may be defined as anavigation position of the portable container to represent a zone. Thezone may further be activated by a sensor measuring weight of theportable electronic device or container from an external sensor, motionof the portable container by an external or internal sensor, and imageof the portable electronic device or container if placed in definedlocation. The portable container may be identified by at least one tag,a reader, a symbol or recognition based on packaging by means ofcoloring, insignia, signature, symbol, bar-code, or related method. Thesaid tag determining the portable container may have security encryptionsuch as a key for an interrogator and/or reader as part of and/orexternal to the portable electronic device or container. The tag may bean RFID, WiFi, broadband, or another signal.

As illustrated by way of example in FIG. 9, a portable container 900 maycomprise a first reader 901, a second reader 902, a third reader 903,and a fourth reader 904. The readers may be located at multiplepositions within the portable container 900, such as at the corners of arectangular space (as depicted). In some embodiments, the readers mayalso comprise one or more directional antennas that are configured to besensitive to signals received from a certain direction, but to be lesssensitive to signals received from another direction. Readers with oneor more directional antennas may be oriented in a certain way so as todefine the three dimensional volume—for instance, readers 901, 902, 903,and 904 may be oriented so that their antenna are pointed toward theinterior of the three dimensional volume, which cause the readers 901,902, 903, and 904 to be more sensitive to signals originating frominside the three dimensional volume than to signals from outside thethree dimensional volume. The readers may receive reader signals fromone or more tags 905. In one embodiment, the 3 dimensional volume may bedefined by the power density of electromagnetic radiation received bythe one or more readers, as well as by software. By means of example, ifthe power of a reader signal sent from a tag is above a predeterminedthreshold value, the tag may be classified as read by a reader. If thetag is read by 2 or more readers, then the tag may be determined to bepresent in the 3 dimensional volume. In some embodiments, a tag that isread by only one or two readers may be determined by software to not bepresent within the 3 dimensional volume, but a tag that is read by 3 ormore readers may be determined by software to be present. By thesemeans, a 3 dimensional volume may be defined in conjunction with, or inthe absence of, shielding.

Still further, information about the signal strength may be used todetermine relative location of a tag to a reader within a predetermined3 dimensional volume. By these means, and by way of example, subzonescan be conceived within a predetermined 3 dimensional volume. By meansof example, if a first and second reader read a tag, but a third andfourth reader do not read a tag, then the tag will be considered to bein a first zone. If a third and fourth reader read a tag, but a firstand second reader do not read a tag, then the tag will be considered tobe in a second zone.

The portable container may contain one or more readers. Specifically, aportable container may comprise or be associated with 1 reader, 2reader, between 3 and 5 readers, between 5 and 10 readers, and more than10 readers.

The portable container may be in communication with a computer systemthat stores and uses inventory and customer information. By means ofexample, a portable container with reader in communication with one ormore tags may communicate information about tags to said computersystem. This information may be processed or used by the computer systemto determine if the information transferred is consistent with apredetermined expectation. By such means error checking may be performedand double-counting may be avoided. The portable container may comprisea display, a sensor, or a plurality of sensors and displays thatinterface with a user. This interface may be biometric, tactile, visual,auditory, or vocal. The purpose of this interface may be in part foruser identification and authentication. The sensors may include, but arenot limited to, an accelerometer or weight sensor. Extensions of theseconcepts will apply to additional uses and systems as can be recognizedby one skilled in the art.

The portable container may communicate information wirelessly to anexternal electronic device based on location, proximity to sensors, itemcontent, actuation of a button, interaction with a display, or others.This information may include, but is not limited to, customerinformation, desire to check out, payment information, item information,and more. This information may be used by a software program to modify adatabase. This modification may include, but is not limited to, updatinginventory.

By identifying a user associated with a portable container using themethods described above, external databases may be referenced bysoftware to identify additional customer information including, but notlimited to, customer order history, customer attributes, and customerpreferences. This information may be used by software to produce asignal that is communicated to the portable container and/or associatedelectronic wireless devices wirelessly whereby said communicationresults in an indication including a display of text, display of coloror light, sound, vibration, and more.

FIG. 10 provides an example process flow diagram 1000 for apoint-of-sale system comprising a portable container. At step 1002, thecontainer is present at a charging station, and is not active. At step1004, upon a user or employee removing the container from the predefinedcharging zone, defined by a portal, the container is powered on. At step1006, the user or employee establishes an association between theportable container and a user identity. As described above, thisassociation may be established by providing the portable container withthe user identity, such as by pairing the portable container with amobile electronic device associated with the user (e.g., with the user'sphone), by reading or scanning media containing user identifyinginformation, by taking a biometric signature associated with the user,and/or by accepting user input containing a user's login credentials.The association may also be established by providing both the useridentity (e.g., a username or serial number associated with a user) aswell as a portable container identity (e.g., a serial number or codethat uniquely identifies a particular portable container) to a remoteserver, when then associates the user identity with the portablecontainer identity.

At step 1008, the portable container begins searching for tags withinits three dimensional volume. Upon reading of a new tag, the portablecontainer branches to step 1010, where the item associated with the tagis added to a virtual shopping cart. The portable container thenbranches to step 1016. Upon no longer reading a tag that was previouslypresent in the portable container, the container branches to step 1014,where the item associated with the tag is removed from the virtualshopping cart. The portable container then branches to step 1016. If notags are found and there are currently no tags within the virtualshopping cart, the container branches to step 1012, which causes thecontainer to branch back to step 1008. The reading of tags anddetermination of whether a tag is present within a predefined zone ofthe portable container may involve software, algorithms, and timingschemes.

At step 1016, the portable container determines whether the portablecontainer is located within or on a portal that defines a checkout zone.If not, the portable container branches back to step 1008. If yes, theportable container branches to step 1022, where the option to checkoutis provided and a virtual shopping cart inventory may be displayed. Theportable container may also display a prompt asking the user and/or anemployee to confirm the purchase (step 1024).

If the user or employee confirms the purchase, the process branches tostep 1028. There, the portable container can communicate with a wirelessmobile device and/or a server. The mobile device and/or server canprocess payment for the user by deducting an online bank account orcredit card account associated with the user. In some embodiments, thischeckout process can also comprise a reprogramming of tags attached toitems within the portable container. This reprogramming can cause thetags to reflect the changed status of the items as being purchaseditems. This reprogramming can cause the tags to no longer react, or toreact differently, when scanned by wireless security devices positionedat the exit of a store. In this way, items that have been paid for wouldnot trip any security measures intended to catch shoplifters, but itemsthat have not been paid for can still be detected by security devices(e.g., RFID readers) positioned at shop exits. The process then branchesto step 1030, at which the mobile device and/or server can either updatethe store's inventory, or communicate with another server that updatesthe store's inventory.

If the user or employee does not confirm the purchase, the processbranches back to step 1008, where searching for tags is reinitiated. Thedescribed process flow diagram is a subset of possible process flowdiagrams described by the inventions herein.

As illustrated by way of example in FIG. 11, a portable container 1100may comprises a first antenna 1101 and a second antenna 1102. Althoughnot shown, additional antennas may also be disposed within or on thesides or surfaces of the portable container 1100. For example, forcontainers comprising a rectangular box with six sides, antennas may bedisposed on all six sides, or on five sides (leaving a top side open) soas to define a three dimensional, rectangular interior volume. Antennasmay extend to multiple sides and be geometries other than substantiallyplanar. The antennas may be coupled with a reader and/or aninterrogator, and may be located such that a predetermined 3 dimensionalvolume is defined. The orientation, geometry, and design of the antennaand container can be such that electromagnetic energy radiated from theantennas are substantially located within the boundaries of thecontainer. Alternatively, or in addition, the orientation, geometry, anddesign of the antennas can be such that the antennas are more sensitiveto electromagnetic energy radiated from within the three dimensionalvolume than to electromagnetic energy originating from sources outsidethe three dimensional volume. The orientation of one or more of theantennas, independently of or in conjunction with shielding, may improvethe read accuracy and/or reliability of a portable container. In someembodiments, the one or more antennas may be attached to the housing ofthe portable container that defines a three dimensional interior volume.Together, the one or more antennas may cover at least 25%, at least 50%,or at least 75% of the housing. As used herein, an antenna is understoodto “cover” part of a housing if the antenna extends substantiallythroughout, outlines, and/or otherwise defines a two dimensional areathat covers part of the housing. By means of example, antenna 1102 canbe considered to “cover” at least 50% of one surface of the housing,even though there are gaps between the wires of antenna 1102. This isbecause the wires of antenna 1102 extend throughout and defines a twodimensional area that covers at least 50% of the surface. By means ofexample, the orientation of one or a plurality of antennas may createelectromagnetic energy that is directed in one or a plurality ofdirections. Tags that may be associated with metallic objects, or otherobjects that may interfere with reader or interrogator signals, may beread more accurately when antennas are provided with predefinedorientations, or when antennas are provided that effectively surroundsome or all of the three dimensional volume.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the portable container 1200 comprises areader 1201 and an additional mobile object 1202. The additional mobileobject 1202 may or may not be electronic in nature. By means of example,the portable container 1200 is a bag and the additional mobile object1202 is a detachable liner bag that is substantially inside of the threedimensional volume of the portable container 1200. Any items placedwithin the mobile object 1202 (detachable liner bag) may be interrogatedby an interrogator and read by a reader configured to inventory itemsplaced within the portable container 1200. By further means of examplethe additional mobile object may be affixed to or associated with theportable container by means of mechanical attachment, magnets,fasteners, and more. The additional mobile object 1202 may be separatedfrom the portable container 1400, for example, by pulling it out of theportable container 1200. By means of further example, the separation ofthe additional mobile object 1202 may be prevented until a predeterminedevent or set of events including, but not limited to, paymentconfirmation or store employee authentication. The additional mobileobject 1202 (e.g., detachable liner bag) may comprise a tag 1203. When areader and/or interrogator determines that tag 1203 is no longer withinportable container 1200, the reader and/or interrogator can determinethat mobile object 1202 (e.g., detachable liner bag) has been removedfrom container 1200. This determination can signal an event, includingbut not limited to, a checkout process, payment, removal of user data,and more. Alternatively, the tag 1203 may be added to the additionalmobile object 1202. When the reader and/or interrogator determines thattag 1203 has been added to the three dimensional volume defined bycontainer 1200, this determination can also signal an event, includingbut not limited to, a checkout process, payment, removal of user data,and more.

A portal may be established by one or more readers associated with apredefined volume. Portals may have zones and subzones, which may be atwo dimensional surface and/or a three dimensional volume having acertain location and certain dimensions. Defining a portal, a zone, or asubzone may be desirable for the purposes of locating an object, such asa portable container, within a given environment, such as a store. Asillustrated by way of example in FIG. 13, a zone of a portal 1300comprises a first reader 1301, a second reader 1302, a third reader1303, and a fourth reader 1304. The readers communicate with one or aplurality of portable containers 1305, and/or tags placed within theportable containers 1305 (not shown). In one embodiment, the 3dimensional volume is defined by the power density of electromagneticradiation received by one or more readers. By means of example, if thepower of a signal received from a tag is above a predetermined thresholdvalue, the tag is read or classified as read by a reader. If the tag isread by 2 or more readers, then the tag is determined to be present inthe 3 dimensional volume. Software can be used to determine whether anitem is within the predetermined 3 dimensional volume. By means ofexample, an application may define a tag that is read by one reader tonot be present in the 3 dimensional volume, but a tag that is read by 3or more readers to be present. By these means, a 3 dimensional volumemay be constructed in conjunction with, or in absence of, shielding.Still further, information about the signal strength can be used todetermine relative location of a tag to a reader within a predetermined3 dimensional volume. By these means, and by way of example, subzonescan be conceived within a predetermined 3 dimensional volume. Portalsand zones of portals may be additionally be defined by interrogators,transponders, positioning systems, and other electronic devices.

Although some of the actions and/or functionalities described herein aredescribed as being performed by a portable container, these actionsand/or functionalities can also be performed by a portable electronicdevice. A portable electronic device can be a device that includes atleast one of a reader, interrogator, and/or transponder. This device canbe part of a portable container, or can be a separate device that isplaced within the portable container, according to some embodiments. Forexample, a portable container as used and described above may be createdby placing a portable electronic device having at least one of a reader,an interrogator, and/or a transponder within the container. Conversely,although some of the actions and/or functionalities described herein aredescribed as being performed by a portable electronic device, theseactions and/or functionalities can also be performed by a portablecontainer.

Any of the embodiments and/or features described above in relation toany figure may be combined with embodiments and/or features described inrelation to other figures. For example, the multiple readers of FIG. 9may be combined with the interrogators, transponders, and externalwireless devices of FIGS. 1, and 3-7. The charging devices described inFIG. 7 may be combined with features described in any of the otherfigures. Similarly, the antennas described above in relation to FIG. 11may be combined with features described in any of the other figures. Ingeneral, the embodiments described above in relation to each of thefigures are meant to be exemplary only, and may be combined withfeatures described in any other figure.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components and/or groups, but do not preclude the presence or additionof one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof. The terms “preferably,” “preferred,”“prefer,” “optionally,” “may,” and similar terms are used to indicatethat an item, condition or step being referred to is an optional (notrequired) feature of the invention.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or steps plus function elements in the claims below are intendedto include any structure, material, or act for performing the functionin combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but it is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A user-portable container that preciselyinventories items within it, the container comprising: a housing thatdefines at least part of a three-dimensional interior volume for holdingitems placed into the container by a user; an interrogator disposedwithin the interior volume and configured to repeatedly sendinterrogation signals to detect identifying tags attached to one or moreitems within the interior volume; a reader disposed within the interiorvolume, the reader configured to detect identifying response signalsproduced by one or more identifying tags in response to the repeatedinterrogation signals; and an adjunct processor configured to confirmwhether the one or more tags are within the interior volume or outsidethe interior volume, the processor configured to: maintain an inventoryof items disposed within the interior volume, and add an item to theinventory of items only when an identifying response signal associatedwith the item is received at least a plurality of times in response to apre-determined number of interrogation signals.
 2. The user-portablecontainer of claim 1, wherein the processor is located outside theuser-portable container.
 3. The user-portable container of claim 1,wherein at least two of the interrogator, the reader, and the processorare part of a single device.
 4. The user-portable container of claim 1,wherein the processor is configured to remove an item from the inventoryof items when the reader does not detect a response signal from a tagassociated with the removed item for a pre-determined number ofconsecutive interrogation signals.
 5. The user-portable container ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the reader and the interrogator arecoupled to at least one antenna attached to the housing.
 6. Theuser-portable container of claim 5, wherein the at least one antennacovers at least 25% of the housing.
 7. The user-portable container ofclaim 5, wherein the at least one antenna covers at least 50% of thehousing.
 8. The user-portable container of claim 5, wherein the at leastone antenna covers at least 75% of the housing.
 9. The user-portablecontainer of claim 1, wherein the reader is coupled to at least oneantenna configured to be more sensitive to response signals originatingfrom within the interior volume than to response signals originatingfrom outside the interior volume.
 10. The user-portable container ofclaim 1, wherein the interrogator is coupled to at least one antennaconfigured to direct the interrogation signals towards the interior ofthe interior volume.
 11. The user-portable container of claim 1, whereinthe reader is configured to detect identifying response signals when theresponse signals have a signal strength above a minimum signal strengththreshold.
 12. A system that precisely inventories items within auser-portable container, the system comprising: an interrogator locatedoutside the user-portable container configured to repeatedly sendinterrogation signals to detect identifying tags attached to one or moreitems; the user-portable container comprising: a housing that defines atleast part of a three-dimensional interior volume for holding itemsplaced into the container by a user, and a reader disposed within theinterior volume, the reader configured to detect identifying responsesignals produced by one or more identifying tags in response to therepeated interrogation signals; and an adjunct processor configured toconfirm whether the one or more tags are within the interior volume oroutside the interior volume, the processor configured to: maintain aninventory of items disposed within the interior volume, and add an itemto the inventory of items only when an identifying response signalassociated with the item is received at least a plurality of times inresponse to a pre-determined number of interrogation signals.
 13. Thesystem of claim 12, wherein the interrogator is part of a portal devicehaving a fixed location.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein theinterrogator is part of a mobile device.
 15. The system of claim 12,wherein the processor is located outside the user-portable container.16. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is located at theuser-portable container.
 17. The system of claim 12, wherein theprocessor is configured to be in communication with the reader via awireless connection.
 18. The system of claim 12, wherein the reader iscoupled to at least one antenna attached to the housing.
 19. The systemof claim 18, wherein the at least one antenna covers at least 25% of thehousing.
 20. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one antennacovers at least 50% of the housing.
 21. The system of claim 18, whereinthe at least one antenna covers at least 75% of the housing.
 22. Thesystem of claim 12, wherein the reader is coupled to at least oneantenna configured to be more sensitive to response signals originatingfrom within the interior volume than to response signals originatingfrom outside the interior volume.
 23. A method for preciselyinventorying items placed within a user-portable three-dimensionalinterior volume defined by a user-portable container, the methodcomprising: repeatedly sending, from an interrogator, interrogationsignals for detecting identifying tags attached to one or more itemswithin the interior volume; detecting, at a reader, response signalsproduced by one or more identifying tags in response to the repeatedinterrogation signals; and confirming whether the one or moreidentifying tags are within the interior volume or outside the interiorvolume by: maintaining an inventory of items disposed within theinterior volume; and adding an item to the inventory of items only whenan identifying response signal associated with the item is received atleast a plurality of times in response to a pre-determined number ofinterrogation signals.
 24. The method of claim 23, further comprisingremoving an item from the inventory of items when the reader does notdetect a response signal from a tag associated with the removed item fora pre-determined number of consecutive interrogation signals.
 25. Themethod of claim 23, wherein the item is added to the inventory of itemsonly when the identifying response signal associated with the item isreceived at least five times in response to at least ten interrogationsignals.